It won't be too long before a direct link is established between the Mantralaya and the collectorate, Jawdekar who is also the executive president of the State Planning Commission told media persons. The district-level information at a glance is aimed at improving the efficiency of administrative machinery through computerisation and reduce the delay caused by red-tape.

The compilation was being carried out by Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre at Nagpur by utilising the Geographical Information System (GIS). While the compilation of information about six districts has been completed, the rest will be covered by the year-end.

The preparationof a database which had been initiated as part of the disaster management programme after the Latur earthquake, information is being compiled on practically every subject related to the district ranging from health matters, land use and land cover, hydro geo-morphological conditions, irrigation, watershed development programme to the availability of water.

Presently there are 320 talukas which have wireless connectivity while 45 V-SAT link centres will be set up by April this year. Computer training will also be provided to government employees, Jawdekar said. Talks are also slated on March 13 with Raj Shekhar Reddy of Carnegie-Melon at Mumbai regarding the proposed Indian Institute of Software Technology.

He also said that the draft budget of the State government for 1999-2000 was approved by the state planning commission but will get the final approval from the Planning Commission on March 3. State Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, Finance Minister Mahadeo Shivankar andJawdekar will attend the meeting.