Maharashtra Cabinet approves new IT, AI department, power reforms

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of key policy decisions spanning technology infrastructure energy reforms and disaster management aimed at strengthening governance systems and accelerating the statersquos longterm development agendaNew Electronics IT and AI Department to be Set UpIn a major administrative reform the state will establish an independent Department of Electronics Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence The move is aligned with the broader vision of achieving a ldquoDeveloped Maharashtrardquo as part of the national Developed India 2047 roadmapAs part of this restructuring the existing Directorate of Information Technology will be upgraded into a Commissionerate of Electronics Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence The Cabinet has also approved the creation of a dedicated IT cadre with permanent positions across Mantralaya commissionerate offices and districtlevel establishmentsOfficials said the decision is expected to streamline digital governance and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence across departmentsMRSAC to Be Converted into Section 8 CompanyThe Cabinet has approved the conversion of the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre MRSAC into a Section 8 company under the Companies Act 2013 Its current registration under the Societies Registration Act 1860 will be cancelledThe restructuring is intended to provide greater operational flexibility and improve execution of geospatial and remote sensingbased projects These include applications in urban planning watershed development under Jalyukt Shivar agriculture technology groundwater mapping mangrove conservation and mineral studiesMahaGeoTech to Promote Geospatial InnovationIn a related move the government has approved the establishment of a new entity Maharashtra Geotechnology Application Centre MahaGeoTech The proposed centre will focus on leveraging geospatial technologies to improve governance and planningIt will also support research innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector while facilitating training and educational programmes for students professionals and researchersMahaVitaran Financial Restructuring ApprovedThe Cabinet has cleared a financial restructuring plan for Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited MahaVitaran Under the plan governmentbacked loans worth Rs 32679 crore will be raised through bonds in the capital marketAdditionally the agricultural power distribution business will be demerged a move referred to as the ldquoAgri Demergerrdquo The utility is also expected to be listed in the capital market signalling a shift towards greater financial transparency and operational efficiency in the power sectorDisaster Resilience Programme Gets NodThe Cabinet also approved the implementation of the Maharashtra Resilient Development Programme MRDP aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanismsThe programme will mobilise funds including Rs 165 crore from the World Bank to support disaster mitigation efforts It includes provisions for housing loan relief for disasteraffected citizens as well as credit support and insurance protection for micro small and medium enterprises MSMEsFlood mitigation plans will be prepared for vulnerable urban centres such as Kolhapur Sangli and Ichalkaranji along with broader efforts to reduce flood risks in the Krishna river basin