Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Assures Funding for Major Development Projects in the District

Kolhapur, Aug 2025 : Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited the newly established circuit bench in Kolhapur district, noting the influx of tourists visiting historical sites and temples. He highlighted the increased responsibility on the district due to the growing population and urban expansion. He directed that all work must be carried out with quality and a forward-looking approach. He assured that there would be no shortage of necessary funding for major development projects under the planning department.

In a meeting held at the new conference hall of the Kolhapur District Collector’s Office, he reviewed the major development projects in the district. Present were Minister of Medical Education Hasan Mushrif, MP Dhairyashil Mane, MLAs Rajendra Patil Yadravkar, Amal Mahadik, Chandrajeet Narke, Rahul Awade, Shivaji Patil, former MLA Rajesh Patil, District Collector Amol Yedage, Chief Executive Officer Kartikeyan S., Commissioner of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation K. Manjulakshmi, Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta, Commissioner of Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation Pallavi Patil, Additional District Collector Sanjay Shinde, and Sub-Divisional Officer Dr. Sampat Khilari, along with senior officials from all district government departments. Guests were welcomed with a pamphlet, and special Ganesh idols made by students from the Chaitanya organization were also presented to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated that care should be taken to ensure that the sentiments of citizens are not hurt during the implementation of the development plan for the Shri Ambabai Temple in Karvir. He emphasized that there should be no hindrance in the ongoing Kiranotsav process. He advised the use of natural stones for renovation works of the temple complex and insisted on maintaining high-quality standards. While acquiring land in the temple complex, no one should be rendered homeless. Planning should ensure that people receive better facilities and housing than before. He instructed that a proposal for the changes decided by the cabinet regarding the Ambabai Temple Development Plan should be submitted immediately for his approval. Detailed presentations of proposed works for the development of Ambabai Temple, Jotiba, and Panhala should be prepared. He assured that funds would be made available quickly once the proposals are found to be appropriate.

A review was conducted regarding the land at Shenda Park for the proposed IT park. Officials also provided information about alternative land options during this time. Considering that Kolhapur could become an IT hub in the future, he directed the examination of sufficient land availability for future expansion. The present MLAs also suggested options for other land. Based on this, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar instructed that final decisions should be taken quickly to confirm the land and submit proposals. He called for increased speed in various development projects and transportation works in the district. With the establishment of the circuit bench, the responsibility of the district has increased, and development is set to accelerate significantly. He urged that, with an eye on future expansion, qualitative work should be carried out with proper planning.

For the runway expansion of Kolhapur Airport, he instructed that necessary land acquisition should be done by inspecting both sides for a proposed runway of three kilometers in length while taking into account future needs, rather than presenting multiple proposals. He assured that funds would be made available to prepare proposals for removing roads on both sides, if necessary. He discussed the issue of land acquisition and runway expansion via telephone with Union Minister Muralidhar Mohol. He also discussed expediting the process of transferring land for the proposed Shahaji Memorial with the Minister of Textiles Sanjay Sawakare.

Recognizing that Kolhapur city is historical, he emphasized that many government buildings here are old, and the Public Works Department should pay special attention to make them more resilient, as well as to enhance the quality of newly constructed buildings. He assured that the remaining and necessary funds for the ongoing construction of new buildings under the Sarathi initiative will be made available on time. A plan for the proposed parking lot and toilet buildings next to the Keshavrao Bhosale Theatre was also presented. Necessary funds will be allocated for this, but he instructed that designs should be prepared in such a way that the new buildings complement the historic theatre. He directed that a plan for this should be prepared and submitted. Discussions were also held regarding the design of the new building for the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. He indicated that a grand and fully equipped building should occupy five acres of land at a single location. Competitions should be held to solicit designs from various suppliers, and the best design should be selected and finalized.

During this time, he reviewed various projects including the Kolhapur International Convention Center, the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Fort Panhala, land allocation at Shenda Park for the IT park, Kolhapur Cricket Stadium, Shri Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Sports Complex, land acquisition for Kolhapur Airport, and the pollution cleanup of the Panchganga River, along with the construction of a new central administrative building, and the renovation of the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Memorial Trust buildings.

More Cleanliness, More Funds

The Municipal Commissioner K. Manjulakshmi remarked that Kolhapur Municipal Corporation receives lesser funds from the GST refund compared to other municipal corporations. The Deputy Chief Minister responded that a re-evaluation of GST refund funds for all municipal corporations in the state will be carried out, and necessary adjustments will be made. He assured that funds for Kolhapur Municipal Corporation will be increased according to regulations. He made it clear that municipal and town authorities should demonstrate quality through cleanliness initiatives. Municipalities that maintain higher cleanliness standards will be awarded more funds. Instructions were given to create a model for cleanliness in India similar to that of Indore. A review of Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation was also conducted this time, discussing the increased funds from GST refunds and water issues in Ichalkaranji. He mentioned that a meeting will be organized at the Chief Minister’s level regarding this.

The Chief Executive Officer Kartikeyan S. presented a review of various innovative and important projects ongoing in the Zilla Parishad. Deputy Chief Minister suggested that villages that perform well should be prioritized for schemes to encourage competition among other villages. He particularly praised the ongoing Samruddhi School initiative under the Zilla Parishad.