Maharashtra: Suresh Prabhu launches District Development Plan for Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg

The union minister of commerce and industry Suresh Prabhu on Monday launched the district development plan for Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg which promotes the development of fisheries, tourism, cashew and mango exports and non-polluting industries to increase overall growth by 3-4 per cent in due course of time. Apart from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, the district development plan is being implemented in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Muzaffarpur in Bihar, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Solan in Himachal Pradesh.

"If these districts grow by additional 3-4 per cent and the same model is being replicated in other districts, India's gross domestic product will achieve double-digit growth. A holistic plan including infrastructure and human resources requirements such as training has been worked out. An accelerated development plan has been prepared for the coastal districts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg," said Prabhu. The Marine Product Export Development Agency and the Agriculture Price Export Development Agency have taken steps to boost exports, he informed.

He said the target is to devise and implement customised growth strategies for districts, focusing on their strengths in niche areas such as services, geographical indications and skills. IIM Lucknow and National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) have been selected to implement the exercise.

Furthermore, a Rs 550 crore plan is under consideration, which after approval, will give a big boost to tourism in the Konkan region, said the Minister. According to him Chipi Airport in Sindhudurg district will be inaugurated soon, while efforts to launch commercial flight service from Ratnagiri are underway. "Both districts will soon be included under UDAN, giving a boost to air connectivity," he noted.

The Minister informed that the Indian Institute of Packaging has already designed a packaged product for agricultural products of Sindhudurg. Korean and Japanese companies are very eager to invest in marine product packaging in the district, said Prabhu.

The Commerce Minister said the government is now going to do Ease of Doing Business mapping for districts as well. ''The combined effect of district-level growth targeting and Ease of Doing Business mapping will lead to a transformative change in the economy of these districts as well as that of the nation. He said that the six districts chosen will, in turn, become a guiding force for all districts of the country,'' viewed Prabhu.