CM promises land for airport at Shirdi

Announcing that an airport would soon be set up at Shirdi to cater to the needs of devotees from all over the world, Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the state government would provide land and other infrastructural facilities for it.

Addressing a press conference after visiting the temple, near here, he said the Sai Baba's temple at Shirdi has become a major pilgrimage spot as devotees from all over the world are visiting the place.

The state government and Sri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi, would hold discussions with the International Airport Authority of India (IAAI) for setting up the airport, and would also mobilise funds to meet the expenditure for the proposed project, he added.

He, however, did not give any time-frame for setting up the airport. Referring to the problems of the farmers of north Maharashtra, Deshmukh said a state-level committee would be constituted shortly to look into the irrigation and drinking water problems of the farmers of the area.

The government would consult the legislators, MPs and people's representatives of north Maharashtra to assess the problems.