Both system, naxals hindering Gadchiroli's development: Patil

The minister says several villages in the district remain without electricity for nearly 11 years

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil has underlined the urgent need of forming a District Development Authority for Gadchiroli stating that both system and Maoists are posing a great development challenge in the naxal-infested area.

"When the established system becomes insufficient to deliver justice to its people, a new system takes birth. The formation of a District Development Authority has now become inevitable because expected development of this district cannot be brought about in the present system," he said while addressing a seminar here yesterday.

"When I ask officials for any project in my own constituency of Tasgaon, I get quick results but that is not the case with Gadchiroli," he lamented.

The administrative process has often been creating hindrances in the way of development in the district along with naxals. It is a fact that despite plenty of natural resources, the district is lagging behind in various fields of development, the minister said.

Citing an example of apathy by government officials, Patil said several villages in the district remained without electricity for as many as 11 years.

When the MSEDCL men went for laying electric lines, they were stopped by the forest department authorities and arrested, he said.