State budget to reduce annual plan by Rs 1,000 cr — Bhujbal

The government had also come out with a white paper on the economic scenario of the state to take people into confidence about the fiscal situation and make them aware of the ground realities, Bhujbal said.

“At the same time, we are making efforts to reduce the administrative expenditure and generate more revenue to put the economy back on rails”, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, said.

Ever since the DF assumed power in the state, Congress and NCP leaders have not let go of a single opportunity to harp on the `extravagant schemes and unplanned expenditure’ of the previous Sena-BJP government which led the state to the brink of bankruptcy.

The Chief Minister has also made it clear that all schemes launched by the previous government would be reviewed and scrapped if found not viable.

Bhujbal said the uniform sales tax scheme would help the state in generating another Rs 1000 crore.

During the four-and-half-year rule of the Sena-BJP alliance, he said no big projects were initiated but with DF coming to power the automobile giant, Skoda had set up their plant in Aurangabad, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the work of streamlining various loss-making corporations was already on and the change of guard in the state had seen state road transport corporation (MSRTC) generating Rs 100 crore more in the three months time over last year’s corresponding period.

He said the ruling DF’s decision to appoint primary teachers on contract basis was cost saving and would also generate more employment in the state. The government had earlier announced recruiting 15,000 primary teachers on contract basis.

On the minorities commission, which was revived by the DF after coming to power, Bhujbal said the appointments on it would be made within a month.

Bhujbal also said the government had given an assurance to cotton growers of Vidarbha and Marathwada that their entire crop would be procured. The decision would cost the state exchequer Rs 1000 crore but it would ensure the welfare of the farmers, he added.