Drought-hit Bundelkhand may get a rail parts factory

RUN-UP TO THE BUDGET 2008-09

All major parties have been trying to get a foothold in the area.

Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region, which has gained immense political importance in recent times, is likely to get a heavy engineering factory for railway spare parts. The announcement is likely to be made in the railway budget on February 27.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had inaugurated a railway wagon unit in her constituency, Rae Bareilly, on February 13 last year. There was talk then that a wheel or a spare parts factory would be set up nearby.

This, however, is not the only reason why Bundelkhand, which has been facing drought for the last four years, has been selected.

The region has become the new epicentre of Uttar Pradesh politics with Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, BJP President Rajnath Singh and Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav visiting the area in the last month alone.

Gandhi, during his visit, singled out the Uttar Pradesh government's dismal record of drought relief in the area.

Mayawati's rally was held just weeks after Gandhi's. In fact, in the UP budget presented a few days ago, Mayawati waived off agricultural loans worth Rs 300 crore, approved a drip irrigation scheme for the area and announced a drought-relief package worth Rs 1,600 crore.

The attention the railway budget is expected to pay to this backward area, parts of which fall in Madhya Pradesh, is a sign that the central government does not want to be second to Mayawati when it comes to distributing largesse.