State Ministers begin charity at home, follow austerity guideline

A senior Public Works Department (PWD) official said none of the members of the Vilasrao Deshmukh Ministry had asked for additional facilities, but, “these four ministers have specifically informed the Public Works Department that no renovation should be undertaken for their bungalows and that they will take possession on an as-is-where-is basis.”

With then resource crunch in view, the Finance Department has given specific instructions to the Public Works Department that no money should be spent beyond the prescribed limit while renovating the ministers’ official bungalows and cabins.

“In the event that any of the Cabinet members insists on additional facilities, he should be politely informed that owing to the resource crunch, it was not possible to oblige him,” the official added.

The Public Works Department is empowered to spend Rs 2 lakh on a new bungalow and subsequently Rs 40,000 every year on furnishing. The rules also provide that furniture can be replaced after eight years. “The department has calculated the life of these items. Even if a Minister demands a new sofa set for his bungalow, it is beyond the department’s powers to oblige him,” the official said.

However, while the official bungalows are by and large in good condition, Kripashankar Singh faces a piquant situation — he found that the bungalow he was allotted was poorly furnished. “When I brought it to the Public Works officials’ notice, they agreed with my contention but said they were helpless in view of the stringent Finance Department guidelines. I have now decided to replace the curtains and the entire furniture at my cost,” Singh added.

Singh welcomed the Finance Department orders and said it was essential that in view of the State’s worst financial crisis, the Cabinet members initiate austerity measures. “We should set an example and then ask the bureaucrats to launch an austerity drive,” Singh added.

Meanwhile, the General Administration Department has asked the Irrigation Department to shift its offices from Mantralaya to the New Administrative Building to accommodate the new Ministers. “We have decided to shift all offices of the Irrigation Department, except those of the ministers and secretaries to create space for the new Cabinet members. Once the shifting is over, we will be able to create atleast 10 new additional chambers to the new Ministers,” the official said.

The official said Chief Secretary Arun Bongiwar has appointed an officer on special duty to supervise the work. “All the new cabins will be ready latest by January 15 so that the new ministers will not be required to operate either from their homes or the Council Hall,” the official added.

The official said the office of the Director of Municipal Administration and Additional Collector, Urban Land Ceiling Act, now in the New Administrative Building will be shifted to the Bandra-Kurla Complex.