CM takes lead in tackling power crisis

Sensing the growing restlessness among cabinet ministers over power crisis in the state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has decided to take the lead himself to tackle the issue.

The power portfolio is held by Dilip Walse-Patil (NCP). Deshmukh decided to head a sub-committee which will regularly monitor implementation of power projects and review crisis.

Adopting a tough approach, he also urged the administration to shed complacency and address to the shortcomings in the key sectors namely power, transport, agriculture and education on a war footing.

At the end of three years of Democratic Front (DF) government, the chief minister indicated to the bureaucrats that the government cannot afford procedural delays.

At the first cabinet meeting on Wednesday to outline the three years of the government’s functioning, the chief minister said power crisis remained the biggest challenge for the government.