Appropriation Bill before March 30: Deshmukh

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today assured agitated MLAs that the Appropriation Bill will be tabled in the Assembly before March 30.

The issue has put the state government in a fix and a constitutional crisis of sorts is looming as the Bill was tabled without the governor's consent. After the Opposition found out this last week, it forced the government to withdraw the Bill, which has now been sent for the governor's consent.

The Bill seeks ratification of additional expenses by the government during the year. Since in Maharashtra, statutory development boards have been created for underdeveloped areas, the state government has to follow directives of the governor on allocations for removing the backlog of various backward region.

However, in violation of this, nearly Rs 1,041 crore meant for irrigation projects in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions was diverted to projects in the state's more advanced region and bastion of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Western Maharashtra.

After the issue was exposed, the Congress, a majority of whose MLAs are from Vidarbha, joined hands with the Opposition and questioned the government over its failure to implement the governor's directive.

The Governor is also in a fix over giving consent to a Bill which violated his directives.