The state government has decided to put on hold nearly 1,200 schemes and projects launched by the erstwhile Congress-NCP coalition. The BJP-led government plans to relaunch some of them with new names.
Why is the move?
Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said they plan to revive many programmes. "We have decided to suspend these schemes till get we get a review done on them," said Mungantiwar. Sources said that the state might do away with programmes that are still in inception stage and not much money has been spent on them. "If the expenditure is more than 50%, the work will be completed and if it is less than 50%, the schemes will be suspended for an uncertain period by citing the reason as shortage of fund. Besides, BJP leaders are mulling to rename some of the good initiatives."
How does Cong see the issue?
Opposition leader and Congress legislator Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the government should be neutral. "The schemes are not a part of any party, but they belong to the state. The BJP-led government should not be biased towards what the previous government has done."
What is NCP's response?
NCP legislator Jayant Patil said the government is depriving the people of various benefits. "What is their fault? The BJP is definitely setting a wrong precedent." Patil added that politics should not be mixed with development. "This decision will escalate the cost of ongoing projects and put unnecessary burden on the state exchequer while relaunching the schemes."
What has govt told its departments?
The government has sent out directives to all departments, telling them that there is no need to rush in the last minute to spend the allocated budget on various schemes and works before financial year ends on March 31.
Moreover, it has also decided to come out with a white paper before the budget session on the Maharashtra's financial health. The state is reportedly reeling under a debt of Rs3 lakh crore and coughing up an interest of nearly Rs63 crore a day.
Is BJP acting out of vengeance?
A BJP leader said such moves are not all new and they with a change in regime. "The party in power will look after the constituencies of its elected representatives and launch schemes to push its own agenda. The Congress had also started many schemes in the names of members of the Gandhi family. Therefore, to erase the previous government's stamp, we have decided to start our own programmes that people will remember forever."
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