Bhopal, Apr 24: Fulfilling a long pending demand of the local people the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that Alirajpur tehsil of Jhabua district would be a district from May 14 next. He made this announcement while addressing a Kisan Sammelan at Jhabua today.

The Chief Minister said that panchayats of Tadavis, Mukdams and Patels would be convened to discuss their problems and elicit their suggestions with regard to schemes to be framed for their welfare. He laid foundation stones for 39 development works to be carried out at a cost of Rs 14.16 crore on the occasion.

Addressing the farmers on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to have slashed the interest rate on farm loans to 5 percent as part of the efforts to reduce the cost of agriculture. He also dwelt at length on the various steps taken for welfare of farmers and turning agriculture into a lucrative proposition. In this context he referred to waiver of surcharge and penalty on electricity bills, reduction of tariff from Rs 1.20 to 75 paise per unit etc.

On the demand of local public representatives the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh each to Bhabhara and Jobat Nagar Panchayats for development works. He sanctioned various other development works for the area on the occasion.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Minister of State for Tribal Welfare Ms Ranjana Baghel; MLAs Madho Singh Dabar, Ms Nirmala Bhuria, Pave Singh Pargi and Nagar Singh Chouhan.