We Will Fulfill the Late Gopinathrao Munde’s Dream of a Drought-Free Marathwada – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Unveiling of the Full-Length Statue of the Late Gopinathrao Munde in Latur

Approval for District General Hospital and City Water Supply Expansion Project
Inauguration of 5 MW Solar Power Project in Gutti
Launch of District Council’s WhatsApp Chatbot Initiative
Distribution of Financial Aid and Scheme Benefits to Beneficiaries

Latur, Aug 2025 : The late leader Gopinathrao Munde was a capable and determined figure whose journey from party worker to Union Minister was full of struggle. He dreamed of making Marathwada free from drought. Efforts are underway to bring the rightful share of water to this region to realize his dream. Approval has already been given to bring 7 TMC of Krishna basin water to Marathwada, with work in its final stage. Now, 54 TMC of Godavari basin water will be brought to Marathwada, announced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He also declared approval for the Latur city expanded water supply scheme and the construction of the District General Hospital.

CM Fadnavis was speaking at the main event organized at Dayanand College grounds on the occasion of unveiling the full-length statue of the late Gopinathrao Munde in Latur. Present were Public Works Minister and Guardian Minister Shivendra Singh Bhosale, Environment, Climate Change, and Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jayakumar Gore, State Agricultural Price Commission Chairman Pasha Patel, MLAs Vikram Kale, Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar, Dhananjay Munde, Sanjay Bansode, Abhimanyu Pawar, Ramesh Karad, Sanjay Kenekar, former ministers Basavaraj Patil, former MLAs Shivaji Patil Kavhekar and Govind Kendre, former Zilla Parishad president Rahul Kendre, DIG Shahuji Umap, District Collector Varsha Thakur-Ghuge, SP Amol Tambe, Zilla Parishad CEO Rahul Kumar Meena, and Municipal Commissioner Mansi Yanchi, among others.

The Chief Minister expressed that it was his privilege to unveil Munde’s statue. He recalled the well-known friendship between former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Gopinathrao Munde. Interestingly, the statues of both leaders now stand within the same Zilla Parishad premises.

Describing Munde as the perfect example of a Leader of the Opposition, CM Fadnavis praised his fight against the criminalization of politics. During his tenure as Home Minister, the MCOCA law was introduced, helping to free Maharashtra from the grip of organized crime.

Fadnavis highlighted Munde’s firm commitment to his principles even in difficult times, his role in agitations for the renaming of Marathwada University, and his image as a “home for all sections of society.” Even in his short stint as Union Rural Development Minister, Munde left his mark, and had he served a longer term, the results would have been even greater.

The CM also announced that the railway coach manufacturing plant in Latur will start soon, creating about 10,000 jobs, with priority given to local residents. Skilled manpower for the plant will be developed within the district. He reiterated the target to pave all farm roads in the state within five years and stressed efforts to bring the most marginalized citizens into the mainstream of development.

Guardian Minister Shivendra Singh Bhosale described Munde’s unique style of raising issues in the legislature and his dedication to justice for common people and laborers.

Pankaja Munde, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Animal Husbandry, noted that Munde’s life was full of struggle and that he taught never to mortgage self-respect despite hardships. She affirmed that she continues to walk on the path he showed.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jayakumar Gore recalled witnessing Munde’s struggle and work. He mentioned that under CM Fadnavis’s leadership, the target of the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme has been increased to provide homes to 30 lakh families.

Inauguration of Solar Power Project in Gutti; Distribution of Scheme Benefits

Through video conferencing, CM Fadnavis inaugurated a 5 MW solar power project in Gutti, Jalkot taluka, set up under the Chief Minister’s Solar Agriculture Feeder Scheme 2.0. This project will provide daytime electricity to 772 agricultural pumps.

The CM also released a special booklet titled Latur District: Marching Towards Progress prepared by the district administration. He unveiled the “Hirakani Haat” logo created under the Umed initiative for marketing women’s self-help group products. The district council’s WhatsApp chatbot initiative was also launched. Under Umed, a cheque of ₹2.05 crore was given to the Tuljai Industrial Group, and house keys were handed over to beneficiaries of the Ramai Housing Scheme.

The program began with the Maharashtra State Song. Guests were welcomed with bouquets, shawls, and replicas of Munde’s statue. The event was anchored by Uddhav Phad, and former minister Basavaraj Patil proposed the vote of thanks.