Worried Congress-NCP govt gazettes a record 1,077 decision in a month

State govt's move aims to counter allegations of policy paralysis and thwart anti-incumbency

The assembly poll facing Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government in Maharashtra, after crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha poll in a bid to tackle the anti incumbency, has issued and gazetted a record 1,077 government resolutions (GRs).

These GRs issued during August 5 & September 6, practically cover all government departments. However, special emphasis is given on targeting politically crucial departments such as cooperation, agriculture, woman and child welfare, tribal development, minorities welfare and industries with a view to regaining the lost grounds.

Besides, government has paid a special attention on drought hit 123 talukas by approving various water conservation works. The government, which has recently granted 16% reservation to Maratha and 5% to muslim communities, has also approved a slew of development schemes under various departments.

Furthermore, Congress-NCP combine, which enjoy hold on the cooperative sector, has issued GR relating to the sanction of Government Share Capital to 1250 TCD (tons crushing per day) for new sugar factories under erection as per new approved project cost of Rs 45 crore. Moreover, the government, which was attacked for the multi crore irrigation scam, has attempted to expedite pending irrigation projects.

The government has swung into action to counter allegations from within and opposition Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance that it was paralyzed. The timing is crucial as the Election Commission of India is expected to soon announce the schedule for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election slated for October.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Ratnakar Mahajan told Business Standard ''When GR about a particular deparment is issued on a particular day it is after a long process of discussion and consultation at various levels of officials and ministries. So the fact that so many GRs are issued it is quite clear that they were in the pipeline of last three to four months. If any body is cynic about that he has to get acquainted how the government machinery works.''

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) spokesman Yogesh Pande claimed that the speed with which the government has issued those GRs prove that Congress-NCP combine has accepted that their defeat before the ensuing assembly poll. ''All decisions taken in a month will be challenged. SSS chief and MP Raju Shetti will soon make a presentation to the Maharashtra Governor against GRs,'' he said.

The list of department wise GRs include Rrural development (59), home (24), housing (10), water conservation (63), water resources (81), urban development (33), planning (17), tourism and cultural affairs (8), water supply and cleanliness (201), Marathi language (6), revenue and forests (38), woman and child welfare (6), information technology (3), employment and self employment (2), finance (24), law and judiciary (6), schools education and sports (76), parliamentary affairs (7), cooperation, marketing and textile (24), social justice & special assistance (61), general administration (83), public health (47), public works (35), civil supplies & consumer protection (5), minorities welfare (12), tribal development (37), higher and technical education (42), industries, energy and labour (32), agriculture, animal husbandry, milk and fish (35).