Control over Mumbai should lie with Maharashtra Government: Sena

"There is no doubt that Mumbai should develop, but we have to ensure that the remedy does not turn out to be more dangerous than the illness itself. The Shiv Sena believes that Mumbai will not be separated from Maharashtra and the control of the city will only lie with the state government," the Shiv Sena, which recently joined the BJP-led state government, said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"If the PM only gives special attention to Mumbai, he will be accused of favouritism. Opposition parties will get the ammunition to fire salvo at the government saying that big industrialists are close to the BJP, hence the PM is giving special attention to the city," it said.

The Sena said other cities of the state, like Mumbai, should also be made into world class cities and the focus should not be on Mumbai alone. "Nagpur is the second capital of Maharashtra. The Vidarbha region is in dire need of development and industrial growth. Even cities in the Marathwada region can be developed into world class cities. All this will contribute to the development of the state," the editorial said.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

Hurdle cleared for Navi Mumbai International Airport

This followed intervention by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who was in New Delhi on  Sunday. "Under the 'Shared Till' approach, the operator will retain a percentage of non-aeronautical revenues generated from commercial activities like shops, concessions in terminal building, renting out parking lot, which enhances long-term project viability with attractive private participation through the PPP mode," Mohan Ninave, chief spokesperson for CIDCO, which is implementing the airport project, said on Monday.

In airports worldwide, Single Till, Double Till and Shared Till mechanisms exist with the trends moving towards the 'Shared Till' which ensures project viability, protects investors' interests and ultimately facilitates world-class facilities to flyers at the airport.

In 'Single Till', all revenues from aeronautical and non-aeronautical are used to cross-subsidise the expenditures incurred. In 'Double Till', the non-aeronautical revenues are totally separated, while in 'Shared Till' some percentage of revenues is used to cross-subsidise expenditure as in Mumbai and Delhi airports (30 percent) currently.

"NMIA, which will be operated in a highly competitive environment with the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) across the harbour, would not be able to sustain unless a similar regulatory regime is permitted to ensure a level playing field," the spokesperson said.

"As CSIA and the proposed NMIA would exist as the first-ever multi-airport system in India freely competing among each other in a free-market environment without any traffic allocation, the key concern expressed by the prospective bidders was the confusion on the regulatory framework, which has now been clarified," explained the spokesperson.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

Maharashtra government to cut non-plan expenditure by 40 percent: Khadse

"There is a fiscal deficit of Rs 26,000 crore, hence the government has decided to effect a 40 percent cut in non-plan expenditure till the State Budget Session in March next year," Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse told reporters here on the eve of the Winter Session of Maharashtra Legislature.

The erstwhile Congress-NCP government had adopted a similar practice with 20 per cent cut in non-plan expenses, although they had never made an announcement to that effect, he said.

On drought and farmers' suicide, the minister said, "The government was concerned over farmers' suicides and drought- like situation looming large over 19,024 villages in parts of state. The crop of cotton, soya in Vidarbha region suffered due to paucity of rains. We have taken decision to provide relief to farmers."

Farmers will be given a 33.5 percent waiver in electricity bills and their crop loan will be restructured. The farm labourers will be absorbed in the EGS work.

"Similarly those children of farmers, who are appearing for SSC and HSC exams, will not have to pay the examination fees for the same," he said.

The BJP-Sena government is for 'minimum government and maximum governance' and will introduce one window-system for industries, where investment is less than Rs 100 crore and will be cleared within three days, he said.

"Development of Vidarbha will be a major issue for the government and implementation of Kelkar Committee on regional imbalances will be discussed in the House," he said.   

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat, Transport Minister Diwakar Raote, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, PWD Minister Eknath Shinde and Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule were also present.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

BJP not to include smaller allies in its govt in Maharashtra: Fadnavis

"None of the smaller allies will be included in the Cabinet today. But that does not mean they are not important. They are indeed very important to us because they are our allies. Our allies will be always taken into confidence in all our works," he said while addressing reporters here.

The BJP had fought the October Assembly polls in alliance with RPI (Athawale), Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), Shetkari Sangathana and Shivsangram. Except RSP (one seat), none of other parties could open their account.

Asked if leaders of BJP's smaller allies are upset over not being invited for the oath taking ceremony at Vidhan Bhavan, Fadnavis said all of them have been invited.

"We have sent invites to all the party leaders. I had, myself spoken to Vinayak Mete, Ramdas Athawale, Raju Shetty and invited them to be a part of the ceremony. There is no question of them being upset then," Fadnavis said.

Asked if he was concerned over a PIL being filed against the Sena joining his Ministry, he said there is no rule that prevents any party from joining the Government.

"I do not think the PIL will stand in court. The opposition leader resigned before the Shiv Sena gets inducted in the government. There is no such rule specifying who can join the government and who cannot. All procedures have been followed," Fadnavis said.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

Shiv Sena reunites with BJP, to join Maharashtra government tomorrow

The coming together of the two saffron parties, which split before the Assembly elections and fought against each other, was announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who held parleys with Shiv Sena leaders in the last few days.   

"It is the desire of the people of Maharashtra that BJP and Shiv Sena should be part of the government," he told reporters, addressing a joint press conference with senior Sena leaders.

The induction of BJP's oldest saffron ally will give the government a clear majority of 184 in a House of 288. The BJP has 121 MLAs while the Shiv Sena 63. The NCP, which has 41 MLAs, had announced outside support to the state government, which was sworn in on October 31.

With Sena now set to join the government, Fadnavis can breathe easy during the winter session of legislature, beginning in Nagpur on December 8.
  
In an indication of BJP's dominance, Fadnavis ruled out having a deputy chief minister in the ministry.
  
12 ministers from Sena, including five of cabinet rank  will be inducted, the Chief Minister said. Around 8 to 10 BJP ministers will take oath on Friday, he added.
  
The swearing in will take place at 4 PM at the Vidhan Bhawan premises.

Source: Chhattisgarh News in Hindi and MP News in Hindi

Maharashtra government to come out with white paper on economy: Mungantiwar

"The White paper will be out before the Budget session of state legislature and will deal with the huge debt of over Rs 3 lakh crore... the state government is paying Rs 63 crore towards interest per day," Mungantiwar said addressing meet-the-press programme here.

"There are many unanswered questions on whether the loan meant for a particular project was properly utilised, wasthere any criminal expenditure (involved), how much employment opportunities were created," the senior BJP leader said.

Mungantiwar also clarified the white paper will not be "a tool of vengeance" against any individual or party to settle political scores, but to know the actual financial status.

He said the Finance Ministry is reviewing the status and performance of more than 1,200 schemes of the state government.

"All the heads of the departments have been asked to prepare a status report on their schemes by June next," Mungantiwar said.

He said his ministry has issued directives to all departments to avoid the last minute rush to spend the remaining budgetary funds in the month of March, before the end of the fiscal year.

"They will have to finish 85 percent of the provisions before March and only remaining 15 percent will be allowed to be utilised in March," the minister said.   

Mungantiwar said he would visit every district to streamline the administration. "I will hold meetings with local representatives, top functionaries of civil bodies like municipal corporation."

Source: Chhattisgarh News in Hindi and MP News in Hindi

Maharashtra seeks Rs 4,500 cr package from Centre to help farmers

The Chief Minister said he was saddened by reports of farmers committing suicide because of bad crop and drought and appealed to the farmers not to lose heart and assured them that his government was doing all that is possible to help them.

The drought situation is severe and decisions like waiving electricity bills, fees waiver of 10th and 12th class students in drought-hit areas, restructuring of crop loan and stay on recovery of loan have already been taken, Fadnavis said in a statement issued here.

He said that his government was constantly monitoring the situation and firmly stood by the farmers in the grave situation.

A 75-year-old farmer, distressed over crop failure, had allegedly ended his life at a village in Akola district last week.

Besides, seven suicides by debt-ridden farmers were reported in the past few days from Vidarbha, which was toured by Fadnavis last week, according to Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJS), an NGO which has been tracking such deaths.   

With these deaths, the number of farmer suicides in the cotton belt, facing water scarcity and agrarian crisis, has gone up to 1,022 till now this year, Samiti's president Kishore Tiwari recently claimed.

A delegation of farmers led by Tiwari had met Fadnavis in Amravati last week and presented a list of demands.

Source: Chhattisgarh News in Hindi and MP News in Hindi

Sena inching closer to join BJP government in Maharashtra, talks to continue today

"Talks between BJP and Sena leaders will continue today. We discussed several things last night," senior Sena leader Subhash Desai who held talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last night said.

Desai declined to disclose the time and venue of the parleys on Tuesday.

There were reports that the Shiv Sena which had been demanding the post of the Deputy Chief Minister and crucial Home Ministry, had toned down the demand and was ready to settle for other ministerial posts but nobody from either side confirmed the same.

The meeting between senior leaders of the two parties was held at Varsha, the official residence of Chief Minister.

Source: Chhattisgarh Hindi News and MP Hindi News

BJP to restart talks with Sena today over joining government

The BJP, facing the heat from several quarters over NCP's outside support to it to form the government, is keen to take the Sena onboard to ensure a stable government.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said his party is keen to join hands with the Sena once again after a bitter split in the run up to the Assembly elections.

"I spoke with Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on phone a few days back and talks between the two parties will start on Friday," Fadnavis told reporters on Thursday.

"From BJP, we have asked Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil to open the talks with the Sena. Both parties may have fought elections separately, but there is no reason why we cannot come together," he said.

Uddhav, however, chose to keep mum on Fadnavis' comments and said he would talk to the BJP when it initiates the process.

"I am willing to resume talks with them (BJP). But let them start at least," Thackeray said.

A senior BJP leader told on condition of anonymity that the Sena will almost certainly join the government during the next Cabinet expansion.

"The Cabinet expansion will happen either on 30th of this month or December 1. I'm almost certain that Sena will come on board," the leader said.

The state Assembly's winter session will commence from December 8.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the BJP has 121 MLAs, while the Shiv Sena is the second largest party with 63 legislators.

The Sena's inclusion in the Fadnavis government will also strengthen the latter's position as it is 22 short of simple majority in the House.

Government firm on abolishing LBT, looking for alternative: Fadnavis

"We do not approve LBT and our stand on abolishing it is clear. We are considering a suitable alternative in this regard," he told reporters here.

"I have myself suggested some alternatives and some have come from the concerned department. There will be further discussions on the issue in the next meeting," Fadnavis said.

The issue would also be discussed with the trading community in the state, he said.

Earlier, Fadnavis, who inaugurated the corporate office tower of Cosmos Cooperative Bank here, urged office-bearers of cooperative institutions to serve as "trustees" of people.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra CM, promises transparent government

44-year-old Fadnavis, who was sworn in as Chief Minister of the first BJP government in the state, got down to work immediately and has instructed Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya to have a draft of the Right to Service Bill ready within a month.
  
"I have directed the Chief Secretary to prepare a draft of the legislation, a form of citizen's charter, to provide better services to the people who can take legal recourse if they don't get them," he told reporters at a meet the press programme shortly after taking oath.
  
He said the decision was taken at the first meeting of the Council of Ministers. Portfolios will be allocated to the seven Cabinet and two Ministers of State tomorrow.
  
"People of Maharshtra have high expectations from us and it is a big responsibility. We will provide an efficient and transparent administration with focus on development," he said.
  
"The state government's financial condition is not that good. If all the assurances given by the erstwhile (Congress-NCP) government are to be implemented, the government would have to spend Rs 52,000 crore," Fadnavis said.
  
The Chief Minister said the decisions taken by the previous Congress-NCP government just before the model code of conduct for election kicked in will be reviewed.
  
"It will take time to bring the administration back on the track but we will do it. We will bring Maharashtra to the number one position," he said.
  
Asked about the possibility of Shiv Sena joining the new government, Fadnavis said," There was a positive talk between Amit Shah and Uddhav Thckeray today."
  
On the presence of godmen at the swearing-in ceremony, Fadnavis said, "They belonged to all religions. There is a thin line between belief and superstition. We are against superstition."
  
He also assured to look into the grievances of the media, particularly incidents of attack on journalists, and said there will be a regular media briefing after state cabinet meetings, a practice discontinued during the tenure of Vilasrao Deshmukh as Chief Minister.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News