Kartik Lokhande's blog

* State Government seeks compensation for next 10 years to fill up this revenue gap By Kartik Lokhande Responding to the Central Government’s call for pre-introduction comments on Goods and Services Tax (GST), Maharashtra Government has assessed the financial implications on State exchequer and revenue earnings of local bodies in this regard. As per the assessment, if GST is introduced with the clause of subsuming entry taxes, local bodies will lose revenue of Rs 12,000 crore per annum. Losing such a huge revenue will put local bodies in trouble. Raising GST by 1-2 per cent also will not fill up the huge revenue gap for local bodies in State. Hence, the State Government has urged the Central Government to fill up this gap by compensating the State for next 10 years. At present, the Centre has proposed to compensate the States for transition to GST for three years. The assessment regarding financial implications of GST on Maharashtra has been prepared by Finance Department. “We have a...

* British-era system of calculating per acre crop yield to change * Aid to dryland, irrigated land, and horticulture farmers increased * Rs 2.50 lakh aid to kin of the farmers who commit suicide over crop loss due to hailstorm * Interest on crop loan waived for three years’ period in which loan will be restructured * 100 royalty waiver to brick kilns this time * Thought to be given to raising separate fund for natural disasters By Kartik Lokhande  Responding quickly to the recent untimely rains and hailstorm that damaged crops on almost 1,00,000 hectares in the State, Maharashtra Government announced a fresh relief package for affected farmers. Eknath Khadse, Revenue Minister, announced the package in both the Houses of State Legislature on Tuesday after discussion on the issue. The untimely rainfall in November and hailstorm a few days ago affected crops on 1,00,000 hectares in 893 villages spread over 32 tehsils of the State. The affected districts include Amravati, Nas...

By Kartik Lokhande  Witnessing a role reversal of major political alliances in Maharashtra after a long span of 15 years, the State Legislature’s winter session was expected to be stormy. However, as seen in the first week that passed by, BJP-Sena alliance appeared to be more confident to be back in the Government compared to Congress and NCP that are still faltering playing the role of the Opposition. Throughout the week, the leading ruling partner BJP became more and more confident with each passing day. Just before facing its first full-fledged session of State Legislature, it was successful in getting the estranged partner back in the fold. As a result, the new Government with various partners projected itself as united. In contrast, Congress and NCP that ruled Maharashtra for 15 years in alliance, did not appear to have come to terms that they were in the Opposition. More than the Government, the game of one-upmanship was being played aggressively in the Oppos...

By Kartik Lokhande The new State Government is keeping its word on scanning the tenders and contracts issued in the last days of erstwhile Democratic Front (DF) Government and during the period before the current Government took over. It has decided to ‘put on hold’ works worth Rs 1,000 crore relating to different irrigation projects in the State.  Confirming the development, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan told ‘The Hitavada’ on Saturday that works relating to different projects were ‘stayed’. The tender process had been started in the tenure of erstwhile DF Government, and the officials had gone further during the period when there was President’s Rule in Maharashtra. The collective worth of these works is over Rs 1,000 crore.  Asked about the break-up of works, he said that these were relating to various projects under the jurisdictions of all the irrigation development corporations. “These are all pre-qualification tenders. We have put on hold t...

* Takes up survey to assess number of non-commercial four-wheelers and commercial four-wheelers plying on different roads Staff Reporter The new Government is taking steps to keep its pre-poll promise of reducing the burden of toll-tax on small non-commercial four-wheelers. It is thinking over granting exemption to non-commercial four-wheelers including cars, from paying toll tax. For the purpose, it has taken up a survey to assess the number of commercial and non-commercial four-wheelers plying on different roads in the State. Further, just ahead of the ongoing winter session of State Legislature, Public Works Department (PWD) constituted a committee of 11 officers and engineers to explore the possibility of closing down 121 toll tax collection booths in the State. However, according to PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, if the Government decided to shut down all 121 toll tax collection booths in the State, it would mean a burden of Rs 30,000 crore on State exchequer. As t...

* Announces road-map for reforms in Police Department, asks cops to register every complaint they receive * Says, Govt committed to improve investigation, detection, conviction, and bring down crime rate in five years * Women’s Cell to be set up in all police stations, strengthening of forensic laboratories, appoint panel of prosecutors at district-level * Cops doing commendable job to be honoured with medals By Kartik Lokhande  Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Friday, announced that his Government adopted ‘Zero Tolerance’ against corruption, crime, and indiscipline in Maharashtra. Replying to a debate on law and order situation, Fadnavis, who also holds Home Department portfolio, rolled out a road-map for reforms in Police Department. Fadnavis informed the Assembly about the Government’s plans to discipline the police force, curb cyber crime, take measures to reduce crimes against Dalits and women, and strengthen the police infrastructure and Intelligence apparatus....

Dear friends,  I feel proud to share with you that on December 12, 2014, I got prestigious Dalit Mitra C K Marpakwar Memorial Journalism Award-2012 at the hands of Maharashtra Governor Shri Ch Vidyasagar Rao. Acting Vice-Chancellor of RTMNU Dr V S Deshpande, Tilak Patrakar Bhavan Trust chief Pradip Maitra, Nagpur Union of Working Journalists chief Brahmashankar Tripathi, and senior journalist Prafulla Marpakwar also shared the dais on this occasion. Apart from myself, two other journalist friends of mine namely Gajanan Janbhor (Lokmat) and Nitin Totewar (Maharashtra Times) were presented the award for the year 2011 and 2013 respectively.  Instead of uploading the news of the ceremony, I feel it appropriate to upload the text of Honourable Governor's address at the function. Here is the text:  Address by Shri Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the presentation of the late Shri C.K. Marpakwar awards for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 to three jo...

By Kartik Lokhande  Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), cutting across party lines, urged the Government to impose a ban on Mephedrone or MD that was flooding the markets as ‘legal alternative’ to narcotics. The demand cropped up during a discussion on law and order situation in the Assembly on Thursday. Vijay Wadettiwar, Deputy Leader of Congress, initiated the discussion under Rule 293. He accused the State Government of inept handling of rising number of crimes. He alleged that there were complaints against Director General of Police also. He urged the Chief Minister to create an atmosphere of confidence in people. Sunil Prabhu (Shiv Sena), Mangalprabhat Lodha (BJP), Varsha Gaikwad (Congress), Rajesh Tope (NCP), Shambhuraje Desai, Waris Pathan (MIM), Asif Sheikh, Abu Azmi, Vijay Kale, Sharad Sonawane, Ramesh Latke, Raj Purohit, Amin Patel, Manisha Chaudhary and others also participated in the discussion. During the discussion, Jitendra Awhad (NCP) produced a ...

Staff Reporter Maharashtra Government, on Thursday, tabled a Bill to provide reservation of seats for admision in educational institutions in the State and of appointments or posts in public services to Maratha community. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat tabled the Bill late in the evening in Assembly. The Bill aims ‘to provide for reservation of seats for admission in educational institutions in the State and of appointments or posts in public services under the State to Educationally and Socially Backward Category (ESBC) in the State of Maharashtra for their advancement and for matters connected therewiith or incidental thereto.’ On the basis of the ‘material and data’ collected by Rane Committee, the Government stated that Maratha community was socially, educationally and economically backward and was inadequately represented in public services. Hence, it required special provisions to be made for its advancement. Hence, it took a policy decision that with...

* Proposes Rs 2,000 cr for farmers in distress, Rs 50 each for MLAs as additional fund for the current financial year * Rs 12 lakh proposed for Nagpur Metro project By Kartik Lokhande  State Government, on Tuesday, tabled supplementary demands of Rs 8,201 crore. Interestingly, the supplementary demands include Rs 2,000 crore for providing aid to farmers in distress and Rs 144 crore as an additional fund to MLAs for the current financial year. Besides, a provision of Rs 12 lakh has been made for Nagpur Metro project. Against the backdrop of the Congress and NCP’s demand for financial help to farmers, the Government’s had smartly moved a proposal to discuss the issue first on Tuesday. However, the Opposition parties disrupted the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly. Before the House was adjourned for the day, the Government tabled supplementary demands of Rs 8,201 crore. The statement on these demands shows that the Government has proposed Rs 2,000 crore under the h...

* Proposes several concepts including Virtual Region for tribals, Green Bonus for areas that have protected forest cover, and recommends setting up Agricultural University at Sindewahi, railway connectivity to district headquarters of Yavatmal and Gadchiroli, Nagpur-Surat connectivity to benefit cotton belt * Emphasises on time-bound completion of pending projects in Vidarbha * Includes drought-prone tehsils, areas having ex-Malgujari tanks, and saline belt in planning process By Kartik Lokhande  Following the announcement that the much-awaited Kelkar Committee report on balanced regional development will be tabled during ongoing winter session of State Legislature, curiosity is building up over its content. Getting a peep into the report, ‘The Hitavada’ has learnt that the report has shifted the emphasis from ‘backlog’ to ‘development gap’. The committee has made certain important recommendations for Vidarbha and other regions, with an expectation that the Government ...

By Kartik Lokhande  Maharashtra Government has asked the officials in Maharashtra Development Service to furnish their detailed bio-data in prescribed format. Else, it has warned, the officials not furnishing the bio-data will not be considered for promotions. In fact, the officials not furnishing bio-data in prescribed format will not be considered even for transfers, training etc from January 1, 2015. V Giriraj, Principal Secretary of Rural Development Department, has issued a circular in this regard. Vide the circular, bio-data of officials in Class-A and B have been asked to furnish the bio-data complete in all respects, to Deputy Commissioner (Establishment) in the office of respective Divisional Commissioner. The format prescribed by the department seeks details like date of joining, date of retirement, community, Unique Identification Number, Sevaarth ID, specialisation, physical handicapped, current posting details, designation of posts held so far with tenu...

* During winter session, BJP-Sena Government to take up important business including Kelkar Committee report, priority to removal of backlog of Vidarbha, proposal to give bonus to cotton-growers, proposal to hike aid to kin of farmers who end life By Kartik Lokhande  On the eve of winter session of State Legislature, Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse hinted at up to 40 per cent cut in expenses owing to ‘fiscal mismanagement’ of the erstwhile Congress-NCP Government. Reiterating that the Government was committed to addressing issues of farmers, he appealed to the Opposition parties to extend co-operation in discussing vital issues during winter session. “We have inherited empty coffers, fiscal deficit is Rs 26,000 crore, and debt burden is over Rs 3 lakh crore. In such a situation, we are left with limited options of borrowing and plugging leakages. There is limit to borrowings and hence we will focus on plugging leakages. For remainder of the current financial year, we...

* Congress, NCP both stake claim for the post of Leader of Opposition By Kartik Lokhande  On the eve of winter session, the Opposition stood divided. Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) both have staked claim for the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) and the differences appeared to have widened. This may prove to be advantageous for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena combine during winter session. On the eve of winter session, Congress alone represented the Opposition and addressed the customary press conference. Asked about absence of other parties, especially NCP, that are not part of the Government, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre said, “NCP has not declared whether it is in the Government or in the Opposition. Often, they have claimed of working to save the BJP Government. Besides, NCP leaders including Ajit Pawar have not shown any aggression or interest in the issues of farmers facing drought-like situation in the State. We are performi...

* Accuses Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of being ‘insensitive’, to take out morcha of farmers on Monday By Kartik Lokhande  In what could be called a role-reversal, Congress party decided to boycot the customary tea-party hosted by Chief Minister on the eve of commencement of winter session of State Legislature. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had invited various political parties for customary tea-party but informed them that he would not be present as he was attending a crucial meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi regarding Planning Commission. “Not attending the customary tea-party on the eve of winter session shows lack of seriousness on part of Fadnavis Government. This is insult of healthy legislative tradition. Hence, we decided to boycot the tea-party,” said Manikrao Thakre, President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). Addressing a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Thakre accused the Chief Minister of being ‘insensiti...

* Prisoners lodged in various prisons across Vidarbha and Marathwada regions are affecting positively the lives of fellow prisoners by writing essays on novel topic By Kartik Lokhande Prison liberates. Sounds strange? But, if positive thinking is instilled among the prison inmates, and that percolates among other prisoners, the idea of prison as a place that liberates could become a reality. In fact, it may result in positive changes in the lives of prisoners after their release. And, this is exactly what is taking place silently in the prisons across Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, thanks to the initiative of a man. Shriniwas Sunchuwar, President of Shri Laxmi Nrusinh Nagari Sahakari Pat Sanstha Maryadit, Ballarpur, is the man who came up with the idea of motivating prisoners to lead a good life after their release from prisons. The story of the birth of the initiative is very interesting. The co-operative society run by Sunchuwar started an open library in Chandrapur...

Dear friends,  Earlier this month (December 6, 2014), Corporate Accountability International (a US based NGO) held a programme in Nagpur in consultation with Nagpur-based activist Jammu Anand. During the event, Jammu Anand released a report that 'exposes the myth vs reality' of World Bank marketing of water privatization projects and 'lays bare' its conflict of interest in many of these projects. The report 'debunks' the World Bank's marketing of the Nagpur model as a success.  With a view to encourage different view-points, I am hereby uploading the press release issued at the programme. I welcome comments/opinions on the issue of water privatisation , so that this issue could be discussed further on this blogspot. Here is the text:  Press Release New report exposes World Bank’s misleading marketing and conflict of interest   Report release comes just days before international week of action to expose, oppose privatization ...