*Champions in Water Conservation by Developing 161 Water Structures To Recharge Groundwater*

Raipur,  // Masulpani Gram Panchayat in Kanker district has been recognized for its exceptional efforts in water conservation and will receive the National Water Award.

President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu will honor the Panchayat for securing second place in the Best Panchayat category at a ceremony to be organised at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on 22nd October at 11:00 AM.

The announcement of winners for the 5th National Water Awards was made by Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri CR Patil on 14th October at Shramik Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi. A total of 38 winners, including Masulpani Panchayat, were recognized across nine categories.

Located just 5 km from the Kanker district headquarters, Masulpani encompasses five revenue villages over an area of 1,429 hectares, with 90 percent of its population belonging to Scheduled Tribes. The Panchayat has made significant strides in water conservation, constructing 161 watershed structures, including 99 farm ponds, as well as 39 brushwood structures, one community pond de-silting project, two wells, two underground dams, and three gabions in 2023. These initiatives have enabled local farmers to increasingly rely on surface water for irrigation.

Masulpani Gram Panchayat’s innovative approach to water conservation has earned it recognition at the national level, reflecting its commitment to sustainable water management.

*New dimensions of development will open in the region: Governor Shri Ramen Deka*

*A historic moment for the Surguja region: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai*

*An important step towards Developed India 2047*

Raipur, / Chhattisgarh’s Tribal dominated and remote region Surguja district is now connected with air service. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually inaugurated Maa Mahamaya Airport, Darima, Ambikapur from Varanasi and gave the gift of air travel facility to Surguja and its surrounding districts.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister extended his congratulations and best wishes to the people of Chhattisgarh, highlighting that the state-of-the-art facilities being developed at airports across India have garnered global attention. He emphasized that the inauguration of the new airport in the Surguja region will create new avenues for development and employment opportunities.

On this occasion, Chhattisgarh Governor Shri Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao, Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu, along with members of Chhattisgarh Cabinet, MPs and MLAs were present.

The launch of this air service marks a significant milestone for the residents of Surguja and neighboring districts, including Jashpur, Surajpur, Balrampur, Korea, and Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur. This new connectivity will facilitate easier air travel to major cities across the country, offering a more economical and time-efficient option for travelers.

Not only will this enhance mobility, but it will also accelerate economic and social development in the region. Residents will now have direct access to cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Raipur, and Bilaspur through this newly established service, fulfilling a long-standing demand for air connectivity in the Surguja region.

Governor Shri Ramen Deka said that the opening of Maa Mahamaya Airport will open new dimensions of development in this region. Through the airport, a better air connectivity will be established for the citizens and industrialists of the Sarguja region. After Bastar, Sarguja is the second largest tribal-dominated area of the state, where this facility is being started.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said, “On this occasion of inauguration of Maa Mahamaya Airport by the visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is a historic moment for the Sarguja region. This is not only an effort to facilitate air travel, but is an important step towards connecting our tribal community and remote areas with the mainstream of development.” This will provide new opportunities for education, health, and employment to the people of the region. We are proud that we are contributing to moving our state towards the dream of Developed India 2047. Air connectivity will not only make travel easier, but will also strengthen the local economy, added Shri Sai.

Quoting Prime Minister’s vision to avail air traveling facility to common masses, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that ream of air travel is also becoming a reality even for those who wear slippers across the country.

The vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is to establish better aviation services in the country and connect all parts of the country with it. Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao, Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam, Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihar Jaiswal, Surguja MP Shri Chintamani Maharaj also addressed the program.

The air strip at Maa Mahamaya Airport located at Darima in Ambikapur has been upgraded under the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Government of India. This airport is sprawled across 365 acres and has been built at a cost of Rs 80 crore. This airport is of 3 Commercial Visual Flight Rules category with a 72-seater aircraft can land on its airstrip. The terminal building has been expanded as per the estimated capacity of 5 lakh passengers annually.

Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade, State Youth Commission Chairman Vishwavijay Singh Tomar, Lundra MLA Prabodh Minj, Ambikapur MLA Rajesh Agarwal, Sitapur MLA Ramkumar Toppo, Director, Aviation Sanjeev Jha were also present in the program.

*Air Connectivity: A Step Towards the Dream of Developed India 2047*
The idea to travel long distances via changing multiple buses and trains to reach larger cities has been troubling for people of Surguja region. Hence, with the launch of Airport in Ambikapur, a new chapter of success has unfolded by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

This initiative is not merely the establishment of an airport, it represents a significant step toward realizing the vision of ‘Developed India 2047.’ The airport will serve as a vital link for lakhs of people not only in Surguja but also in surrounding districts such as Jashpur, Surajpur, Balrampur, Korea, and Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, connecting them more effectively to the broader national landscape.

*Growing Prospects for Surguja with Maa Mahamaya Airport Opening*
The inauguration of Maa Mahamaya Airport is set to transform the connectivity of Surguja, linking residents directly to major cities such as Raipur, Delhi, Kolkata, and Jabalpur. This new air service opens up significant opportunities for students seeking better education, allows businesses to access new markets, and provides patients with easier access to quality medical facilities.

Rajesh, a young entrepreneur from Ambikapur, expressed optimism about the changes, stating, “Transporting our products to other cities will now be much simpler. The previous long and costly road journey is no longer a barrier; we can directly ship our local products to cities like Delhi and Kolkata.” This airport is poised to revitalize economic activities in Surguja, generating excitement among both small and large business owners.

*New Avenues for Tourism*
Surguja boasts stunning valleys, the hill station of Mainpat and the historic caves of Ramgarh, all of which are key tourist attractions. The airport’s opening is expected to make travel more convenient for tourists. Local tourism stakeholders anticipate a boost in visitor numbers. Guide Shankar said, “Previously, tourists had to endure lengthy road trips to reach us, but now they can arrive directly by flight. This will enhance our tourism business and create employment opportunities for local residents.”

*Economic Development and Investment Opportunities*
Prime Minister Shri Modi highlighted it would facilitate not only transportation but also attract investment to the region. The air service is expected to open new markets for local industries, thereby increasing employment opportunities.

Furthermore, the demand for Surguja’s agricultural products across the country is set to rise, allowing farmers to deliver their goods directly to markets in cities like Delhi and Kolkata. This accessibility will not only boost their incomes but also strengthen the overall economic landscape of the region.

*Chhattisgarh’s 97 players secured first place and won gold medals*

*Kerala stood second with 38 gold and Madhya Pradesh stood third with 38 gold*

*Manu Bhaker attended the closing ceremony of the All India Sports Meet*

*Sports are important for personality development: Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh*

*More than 2920 players from across the country participated*

*All India Forest Sports Competition concludes*

Raipur / Chhattisgarh became the overall champion by securing the first position in the All India Forest Sports Competition.

In the closing ceremony, Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh presented the trophy to the winning players. On this occasion, Governor Shri Ramen Deka congratulated and virtually wished the players. MP Shri Brijmohan Agarwal, MLAs Rajesh Munat, Purandar Mishra were present in the program.

In the competition, the players of Chhattisgarh performed brilliantly and achieved a record victory by winning 97 gold, 44 silver, 33 bronze medals with a total of 731 points and secured the first position. Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker also encouraged the players in the program. Kerala secured the second position in the competition with 38 gold, 37 silver, 27 bronze with total points of 389. Madhya Pradesh secured the third position with 38 gold, 27 silver and 26 bronze medals and secured total points 363.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh emphasized the importance of sports and said that sports are important for personality development and congratulated all the players. Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, congratulated the officers and employees of the Forest Department for the success of the event. In the program, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Shri Subodh Uniyal announced that the upcoming All India Forest Sports Competition will held in Uttarakhand.

In the ceremony, Nodal Officer Mrs Shalini Raina handed over the flag of the competition to Uttarakhand Forest Minister Mr Subodh Uniyal. It is noteworthy that the All India Forest Sports Competition is being organized since 1992 and it was held for the third time in Chhattisgarh. This competition is based on the conservation of forests and from forest guards to department officials also participated in it.

In the ceremony, Forest Force Chief Mr Srinivas Rao said that this sports competition has been successfully organized under the guidance of Chief Minister Mr Vishnu Deo Sai and Forest Minister Mr Kedar Kashyap.

Players from different states praised the sportsmanship and hospitality. During the competition, the participants were introduced to the culture, tradition and folk songs and music of the state through cultural programs. The specialties of the state’s culture and food remained the center of attraction for everyone.

In the ceremony, Bollywood singer Suvarna Tiwari’s songs made the event a hit. Apart from this, a wonderful performance was given by the famous Bastar Band and Chhattisgarh’s folk tale Lorik Chanda. Chief Secretary Mr Amitabh Jain, Director General of Police Mr Ashok Juneja, Additional Chief Secretary Forest Mrs Richa Sharma, Central Forest Inspector General, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Mr KB Singh and Chhattisgarh Olympic Association President Mr Vikram Sisodia along with departmental officers and employees were present in the closing ceremony.