* 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 will not increase taxes but plug leakages,” said
Khadse.
Khadse was addressing a press conference at Ramgiri, the
official bungalow of Chief Minister, on Sunday in absence of Chief
Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had gone to Delhi to attend Chief
Ministers’ meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss
future of Planning Commission. Khadse told reporters that ahead of
Assembly elections, erstwhile Congress-NCP Government had taken several
decisions with an eye on political gains. These decisions will have to
be kept on hold for implementation till the end of current financial
year. Replying to a question he said, “It is not that we are the first
to cut expenses. Congress-NCP Government also opted for budget cut up to
40 per cent.”
During the winter session, which will be the first
full-fledged session of the new BJP-Sena Government, several important
matters will be taken up for discussion. These include Kelkar Committee
on development of backward regions, drought-like situation prevailing in
the State, improving financial health of the State, industrial
development outside MIDC areas, Maratha and Muslim reservations, etc.
The Government would also discuss on Right to Service Bill,
‘Make-in-Maharashtra’ initiative to attract investment to Maharashtra,
changes in labour laws.
Responding to the allegations of Congress,
Khadse said that the new Government had already taken several measures
to provide relief to farmers facing drought-like situation. “We are
thinking of all other options including paying special bonus to
cotton-growers, but keeping in mind financial health of the State,” he
said. Asked about farmers’ suicides and meager aid given to the kin of
deceased farmers, Revenue Minister said that the Government was talking
to insurance companies about a proposal under which the State Government
would pay premium. Possibility of increasing the aid to kin of farmers
from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh was being explored, he added.
Further,
the Government had got approval from Central Government to primary
reports of three river-linking projects in State. These include
diversion of water from Konkan to Godavari basin, and that from Madhya
Pradesh to Tapi basin. Central Government had given in-principle nod to
18 primary reports, he said.
Girish Bapat, Parliamentary Affairs
Minister; Chandrakantdada Patil, PWD Minister; Chandrashekhar Bawankule,
Energy Minister; Subhash Desai, Industries Minister; Eknath Shinde,
MSRDC Minister; Diwakar Raote, Transport Minister; Dr Deepak Sawant,
Public Health Minister; Dilip Kamble, Minister of State for Social
Justice; Vidya Thakur, Minister of State for Woman and Child
Development; Ravindra Waikar, Minister of State for Housing, and others
were present prominently at the press conference.
(07-12-14)
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