Maharashtra govt, Opposition gear up for face-off in Assembly

The three week long monsoon session in Maharashtra commences on Monday

With the monsoon session of the assemby a few days away, the opposition parties in Maharashtra are poised to take on the Congress-led state government on alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds in the implementation of relief measures in around 11,000 drought-hit villages. The session commences on Monday.

The alleged scams in tribal and social development schemes, extension given to the special investigation team (SIT) probing the multi-crore irrigation scam and delays in providing houses to textile mill workers will also be used by the opposition against the government during the three-week session.

Vinod Tawde of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said the government had “miserably” failed at all fronts. “The state's performance in agriculture is quite miserable. Maharashtra has been overtaken by other states in attracting investments. The government's track record in curbing corruption is quite pathetic,” he said.  

Tawde alleged the government mishandled the drought-relief measures as the people close to ministers had benefitted from huge contracts, while the drought-hit people had to struggle. Tawde expressed serious displeasure over the government's decision to give six-month extension up to December for the SIT investigating the irrigation scam. "The SIT does not have powers under the Commission of Inquiry Act. The chief minister has succumbed to the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party, which is part of the government) pressure and thus will seek clarification from the former," he added.

However, Sachin Ahir, minister of state for parliamentary affairs plays down the opposition's aggressive posture. ''The government will not run away, but is open to have discussion on issues raised by the opposition,“ he told Business Standard. “The government will strongly defend the job it has done in reaching out to the drought-affected villagers. With the Central and state government's financial aid, the relief operations were implemented quite successfully." The minister further said said the state continued to outsmart other competitive states in attracting investments.

Ahir mentioned that Maharashtra's new industrial policy and textile policy had been currently followed by other states. ''The government will table a Bill to convert existing SEZs into integrated industrial areas wherein it will be mandatory for the project developer to use 60 per cent land for industrial purpose, while he will be allowed to use 30 per cent for residential and 10 per cent for commercial purposes,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the government is not keen to bring a bill which envisages introduction of local body tax (LBT) replacing Octroi Duty by Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation from October 1. LBT has already been introduced in more than 22 civic bodies while Shiv Sena-BJP and traders are strongly opposed to LBT regime in Greater Mumbai.

A senior minister admitted that the government may not insist on bringing in bill during the monsoon session.