Khadse hints at 40% cut in expenses, blames DF for ‘fiscal mismanagement’


* 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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