Division of Thane district to be announced on May 1, says CM

Rane reacted strongly to the presidents8217; demand for more powers and a longer tenure, quot;Though it is nice that you brought up your demands, how many of you can say you are going about your dutiesquot;, adding the administration and elected representatives were not doing enough. quot;If this is not true, why has quality of life dipped so much?quot; he asked. quot;I hope you remember that you are here to find out how you can serve people better,quot; he said,and added, quot;It8217;s surprising that the same COs and presidents who don8217;t get along otherwise, have now come together.quot;

Rane felt civic bodies should be financially independent before demanding autonomy, and added, quot;You cannot ask for the right to make your own decisions as long as you keep looking to the State for funds.quot; The CM referred to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in this regard. quot;After clamouring for years for powers, all the Mayor-in-Council has achieved is turning a profit-making corporation which always had surplus funds, into a one with a deficit of Rs 618 crore.quot; Dispelling fears that the State lagged behind its neighbours in terms of development, he said, quot;Maharashtra still attracts more foreign investment than any other State in the country.quot; He felt the State8217;s officials were pampered by earlier regimes. quot;They actually have the nerve to refuse a posting when it is offered,quot; he said, adding, quot;Hereafter, any official not accepting transfers will be thrown out.quot;and said funds would soonbe released for the purpose.

He nevertheless assured the gathering he would explore the possibility of starting district governments with the involvement of local members of Parliament, members of the Legislative Assembly and other elected representatives along the lines of Madhya Pradesh.

On the Union Budget8217;s provision for civic bodies to float bonds, he said, quot;The Councils would do well not to rush into this merely because it will raise funds.quot;

According to him, 100 councils do not have enough money to pay their own staff. quot;They owe the MSEB money in crores and are using the same to pay salaries,quot; he pointed out, adding, quot;If you can8217;t pay back people who invest their money, they will come to the State.quot;

He said the State was incapable of supporting the councils. quot;The Fifth Pay Commisision implementation has left the State8217;s hands tied as it has to bear an additional burden of Rs 3,800 crore,quot; he said, but promised to consider increasing the presidents8217; tenure to two-and-a-half years.

Earlier,addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde could not resist taking a dig at former CM Manohar Joshi. quot;For two-and-half years the alliance government has not been able to deliver what is due to some people. I hope we are able to so better now,quot; he said.

When he asked why presidents were demanding more honorarium, one audience member got up and asked, quot;Do you think the Rs 30 we are given is enough?quot; Munde was quick to reply, quot;You surely don8217;t want me to get into what all you get besides the honorarium on this platform, do you?quot;