The District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) on Monday approved an outlay of Rs 1,503.50 crore for the 2026-27 District Annual Plan, with Maharashtra Revenue and Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule directing all departments to prepare a three-year integrated development roadmap to ensure more effective and result-oriented utilisation of public funds.
The meeting, held at Niyojan Bhavan, also approved expenditure of Rs 1,327 crore incurred under the 2025-26 District Annual Plan. The proposed outlay for 2026-27 includes Rs 1,214 crore under the General Plan, Rs 195 crore for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan and Rs 94.50 crore under the Tribal Component Programme.
Addressing officials, Bawankule said departments should move beyond year-to-year planning and formulate integrated three-year development plans with clearly defined objectives and measurable outcomes to maximise the impact of government spending.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Finance Adv Ashish Jaiswal, MP Shyamkumar Barve, MLAs Nitin Raut, Krishna Khopde, Vikas Thakre, Mohan Mate, Pravin Datke, Samir Meghe, Dr Ashish Deshmukh, Sanjay Meshram and Charansingh Thakur, MLCs Parinay Fuke, Abhijit Wanjari, Krupal Tumane, Sudhakar Adbale, Dr Rajiv Potdar and Sanjay Bhende, along with District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar, Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil, Superintendent of Police Dr Harssh Poddar, Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni, Divisional Conservator of Forest Dr Vinita Vyas, District Planning Officer Sanjay Kadu and other committee members.
Agriculture and water conservation
Bawankule said changing climatic conditions have created new challenges for the agriculture sector and stressed the need to protect farmers’ interests. He directed officials to prevent the sale of substandard seeds and ensure immediate reporting of crop failures caused by poor seed germination. He also instructed authorities to maintain uninterrupted power supply for agricultural operations.
Emphasising water conservation, the Guardian Minister directed the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forest departments to jointly restore nearly 6,500 water bodies across the district. The committee approved 119 nullah deepening projects and 18 check dam repair works in Saoner, Hingna, Katol, Ramtek, Kamptee and Umred. Urban local bodies were also asked to strengthen groundwater recharge initiatives.
Task force to remove encroachments
To curb encroachments on government land, Bawankule announced the formation of a special task force under the Municipal Commissioner. The task force will coordinate with the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Nazul authorities, police and revenue officials to identify and remove illegal encroachments.
Focus on synthetic drugs and law and order
The committee also reviewed law and order, with discussions focusing on the growing menace of MD drugs, illegal hookah parlours and violent crime. Bawankule reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating the synthetic drug network. Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil informed the committee that a three-tier security system has been implemented and that the Rs 110-crore CCTV surveillance project will significantly strengthen policing and crime prevention across the city.
Aid for persons with disabilities
Before the meeting, Bawankule distributed electric three-wheelers to 28 persons with disabilities under the Zilla Parishad’s Divyang Cess Fund, aimed at promoting self-employment and improving mobility.
Organic agriculture malls proposed
The Guardian Minister also said the government would explore amendments to existing norms to allow District Annual Plan funds to be used more effectively for agriculture-related activities, including food processing, packaging and artificial intelligence-based technologies.
He further directed officials to prepare a roadmap for setting up organic agriculture malls in every taluka, enabling farmers to market their produce directly to consumers and improve their earnings.
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