Maha Govt plans eco-villages for rural development

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government is planning an ambitious project for development of rural areas by introducing an eco-village concept, which would give incentives to the villages for preserving environment.

"We are planning the eco-village concept which would serve both the purposes - development and preservation of environment of the villages," Rural development minister Jayant Patil said.

Patil has been taking opinions and suggestions from experts in the rural sector and activists on the issue.

"I have been discussing the issue with experts and we will try to get the plan approved by the cabinet soon," he said.

In the concept, the rural areas would have a development plan like cities to avoid haphazard constructions in future.

"The rural areas are expanding but they have no proper development plan. We would design the plans too for these areas," an official from the rural development department said.

The concept would also ensure the basic minimum facilities for the villages like water and sanitation, power, schools and markets, the official said.

"Certain guidelines and rules would be set up for villages like using bio-gas, preserving forests, maintaining sanitation against which incentives would be given to them," the official said.