 "Tough budget task before Maharashtra govt")
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also has the finance department, will present the budget on March 20. State finances are under pressure, with expenses of about Rs 2,000 crore on drought relief and rehabilitation, and a fall of at least 20 per cent in tax collection in the wake of the ongoing economic slowdown.
Last year, Pawar had presented a Rs 152-crore revenue-surplus budget, especially due to buoyant tax collection. Now, with state polls due in 2014, the government is expected to announce a slew of incentives for social sectors and at least a couple of development projects for economically weaker sections, minorities and tribals.
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A senior minister said there’d been a cut in the money earmarked by the district planning and development council for various projects. However, performing districts had been rewarded with additional allocation. The government will have to prepare a convincing argument to justify a rising debt burden, currently Rs 2.52 lakh crore. The Opposition Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have already said they would grill the government on this issue.
The government and the Opposition parties are also pitted against each other on the drought conditions in 126 talukas of 16 districts. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said talks were on with the Karnataka government to get water from the Almatti dam. The state has received Rs 778 crore and an additional Rs 550 crore from the Centre for drought relief and water supply works. It has sought a Rs 2,200-crore package to complete various irrigation projects. It also wants central government assistance of Rs 1,200 crore for the rabi season.
Vinod Tawde, Opposition leader in the Legislative Council, has accused the government of mishandling drought relief. He alleged western Maharashtra has got priority over the worst-affected districts, with more fodder camps there than in Marathwada or north Maharashtra. Tawde said the Opposition would also highlight the home department’s inability to handle various law and order-related issues.
The Opposition parties are also geared to counter the state government on the much-reported irrigation scam. The establishment of an investigation team (SIT), led by water expert Madhav Chitale, was slammed for not having any judicial powers. Pawar says the terms of reference ask the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to fix responsibility for any irregularities found and suggest action against those concerned. He says the government was equipped to return the opposition salvo.
The session is also expected to see heated debate on security for women, especially in the wake of the deaths of three minor girls after alleged rape in Bhandara district of the Vidarbha region.
The issue of verbal spat between Pawar and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, which led to clashes between their party workers in various parts of the state, is also likely to figure.