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Journalism of Courage
NAGPUR, DECEMBER 15: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Wednesday said the Democratic Front (DF) government would investigate into `extravagance’ by the previous Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government in various schemes and warned of strict action against the guilty.
“The DF government will definitely inquire into the estimates of various projects launched by the previous government and action will be initiated against those found guilty of inflating the project costs,” Deshmukh told the State Assembly while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor.
He said if the money was used judiciously it would have benefitted more number of people.
Deshmukh lambasted the previous government’s decision of creating the post of deputy chairman in the State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
“The appointment was unwarranted interference into the work of the corporation,” the chief minister said adding an independent inquiry would be launched to look into the matter.
He said inlast 20 days the corporation’s income had increased by Rs 45 crore through various measures and added that “siphoning of money” from the corporation during the previous regime would be probed.
He also criticised alleged haste by the earlier government in clearing various projects like water supply scheme and questioned the necessity to construct 55 flyovers in Mumbai.
The “undue haste” in clearing various schemes would also be examined, the chief minister said.
Deshmukh, however, ruled out scrapping of all schemes launched by the Sena-BJP government saying people oriented projects like construction of roads, providing drinking water and irrigation works would not be stopped.
“But we have authority to examine the decisions taken by the government prior to elections when the code of conduct was in force,” Deshmukh said.
The chief minister said the previous government had brought the State “on the verge of bankruptcy”. When the Sena-BJP took over the reins, the State coffers had Rs 277 crore inbalance but when DF came to power, the State exchequer “is facing a deficit of Rs 7,972 crore,” he said.
Deshmukh said development boards established for clearing backlog of various backward regions in the State “have yielded no results” and a concrete policy decision was needed to bring those regions on par with the developed areas of the State.
The government was willing to give special package to industries for setting up their units in backward areas, he said.
