Maharashtra Government diverted Rs 7,642 cr of Vidarbha, Marathwada to other regions

• DF Government should come clean on the issue by making public the details of plan and non-plan expenditure, demands MLA Devendra Fadnavis 

By Dheeraj Fartode 

Launching a scathing attack on Democratic Front (DF) Government in the State, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Devendra Fadnavis, on Saturday, accused it of playing fraud on Constitution of India and depriving backward regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada of development.

“DF Government is hiding details on diversion of funds in past 10 years. In financial year 2010-11, it diverted Rs 7,642 crore of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions to other parts of the State. In contrast, the Government spent Rs 12,642 crore more under non-plan expenditure in other parts of State, especially in Western Maharashtra,” Fadanvis alleged in a press conference held here on Saturday. The MLA said that the Government had allocated Rs 19,021 crore under non-plan budget to Vidarbha. However, it actually spent only Rs 14,807 crore, that is, Rs 4,214 core lesser than allocation. Of Rs 13,519 crore allocation for Marathwada, amount of only Rs 10,091 crore was spent. A total of Rs 12,642 crore were diverted to other parts of the State, he said.

To bring out the clear picture on this, Fadnavis demanded the DF Government to make public the details of plan and non-plan allocation and expenditure for Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. The data should reveal picture in past 10 years, he added. “Often, DF Government claims that it is committed to achieve balanced regional development as per the Constitution of India. However, in reality, DF Government is violating the norms,” he alleged. The developmental backlog of under-developed regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada would continue to increase if the Governor’s Directives on equitable allocation were not followed in letter and spirit, he added.

BJP city chief and MLA Krishna Khopde, MLAs Sudhakar Deshmukh and Vikas Kumbhare were present at the press conference.

Govt should file review petition: Fadnavis 

Referring to the recent controversy over Advocate General Darius Khambata’s affidavit filed in response to a writ petition filed in Bombay High Court by Society for Backlog Removal and Development, the BJP MLA said that the Government should take the matter seriously and file a review petition in the court. “If the Government fails in filing review petition, BJP will not spare it,” he warned.

In the writ petition over allocation of water from Upper Wardha irrigation project for a power project of Sophia Power Company (Indiabulls), Khambata had mentioned in his affidavit, “Any reference to targets, deadlines or objectives of physical work or elimination of physical backlog even if couched as directives by the Governor or any aspect of governance is given the highest respect by the State Government and will be adhered to if possible, but is not binding directive or decision under Article 371 (2) of the Constitution of India.” Condemning this, Fadnavis demanded that the Government should admit in the court that Governor had power to direct the Government on allocation and expenditure through Article 371 (2) of the Constitution of India.

It may be recalled here that Khambata’s controversial statement had irked the legislators from the Ruling as well as the Opposition sides in both the Houses of State Legislature during ongoing budget session. Fadnavis had moved a breach of privilege notice against Khambata and had said that the controversial affidavit was in contravention of Article 371 (2) that vested special responsibility in the Governor to decide on allocation of funds where there was regional imbalance in allocation. The anger of legislators had forced the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to assure the Legislative Assembly that funds meant for Vidarbha and Marathwada would not be diverted to other parts of the State, and that the Government abided by the Governor’s directives.