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

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

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

Industry hopes new Maharashtra government will fast-track infrastructure projects

Devendra Fadnavis, 44, a four-term MLA from Nagpur, will be administered the oath of office by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao at Wankhede Stadium in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several of his Cabinet colleagues, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, corporate leaders, Bollywood stars and other celebrities.
  
The new government will have to address some immediate issues like power deficit and bureaucratic hurdles to revive investment in manufacturing, real estate and construction sectors for growth and job creation in Maharashtra, according to industry experts.
  
"Live investment worth Rs 15 lakh crore which are at different stages of implementation should be expedited by the new chief minister. If done the multiplier effect will be phenomenal," industry lobby Assocham said in a statement.
  
The chamber said that projects worth Rs 4.12 lakh crore are currently under implementation in the power sector alone. However, implementation of the same needs to be speed up.
  
Along with pending investment in the power sector, such investments in the pipeline belong to construction and real estate (Rs 2.92 lakh crore), services (Rs 5.78 lakh crore) and manufacturing (Rs 1.65 lakh crore).
  
Property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) believes the government will have to focus on 3 I's – infrastructure, interest reduction and income generation.
  
"With the BJP's remarkable show in the state polls, the state will give a new lease of life to infra projects across all sectors. The projects which are being monitored by the Centre will get accelerated with the state government assumption of political power," JLL's Ramesh Nair said.
  
He said with the Centre taking a keen interest in the real estate sector, it will provide an impetus for growth across various sectors, generating tremendous employment and thereby boost the entire economic outlook for the country.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News