Shivshahi Punarvas Yojna to be reviewed

However, he made it clear in the House that on-going projects under the scheme would not be suspended. "We are not giving green signal to any new projects till the review of the scheme is completed. But the ongoing schemes will be completed in their due courses", he said.

The government would rectify the shortcomings of the scheme and launch it in a better way so that poor people get the real benefits. The department has completed around 14,000 houses so far under the scheme and few beneficiaries were able to take the procession of their houses, he further informed.

FREE ELECTRICITY TO FARMERS: The Congress-NCP government will not be able to take a suo motu decision to provide free electricity to farmers in the wake of formation of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Authority, informed the minister for Energy, Padamsinh Patil in the Council.

In a written reply to a question, raised by Subhash Deshmukh (BJ) and others in this regard, the minister said the government would not take a decision due to the recent formation of state authority. The state electricity authority was formed under the provision of Central Electricity Authority Act, 1998.

The power tariff will be fixed by the new authority and hence the government would not take any steps immediately, he further said.

To another query the minister said the MSEB authorities were examining the proposal of pension to its employees.

As there is a long-term financial repercussion, if pension scheme introduces, the authorities were examining the proposal, he added.