Times of India: Mumbai: Monday, January 13, 2014.
Chief
minister Prithviraj Chavan approved crucial projects totalling Rs 1,000 crore
bowing to pressure from deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The question is whether or not
the plans will benefit the Congress-NCP combine in the polls.
Recently,
Pawar had come down heavily on Chavan for prolonged delay in taking decisions.
Later, the CM had a marathon meeting with top officials and ministers. Key
proposals were discussed and approved.
It is now
expected that the departments concerned will promulgate orders to provide
financial assistance to the projects. Chavan approved a Rs 100-crore proposal
for setting up education and training centres in 31 districts. After a policy
decision is taken, it will take nearly a year to complete the infrastructure
work and the facilities will be operational from the 2015-16 academic year.
In the case
of proposals submitted by the irrigation and public works departments, after a cabinet
decision is taken, tenders will be floated and work orders will be issued. It
will take over a year to complete the projects approved. "Following the
criticism, the CM took decisions, but results will only be evident after the
polls," says a NCP leader.
BJP leader
digs dirt;
Following
governor K Sankaranarayanan refusal to give the CBI a go-ahead to prosecute
ex-CM Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh case, leader of opposition Eknath Khadse has
found that several applications seeking permission to prosecute ministers are
gathering dust.
The general
administration department (GAD) headed by CM
Prithviraj
Chavan is reluctant to take a call on the applications, says Khadse. In the
case of Sena leader Suresh Jain, an accused in a housing scam, the Jalgaon police
superintendent had filed a chargesheet but the probe could not progress since
the government is yet to decide on the application to seek his prosecution.
Khadse unearthed that in several cases either the anti-corruption bureau or the
law-enforcement agencies have registered criminal cases against the erring
ministers. But due to lack of cooperation by the state government, especially
the GAD, the cases are stuck.
In his letter
to chief secretary J S Saharia, Khadse has sought records in connection with the
pending applications before the government under the Right to Information (RTI)
Act. The BJP leader has also submitted independent RTI applications to all
police chiefs for seeking data on pending cases against legislators,
ex-ministers and serving cabinet members. "My office has already received
specific information on pending criminal cases against politicians from seven
districts," says Khadse.
"I
expect to receive all the information in a week after which I will approach the
governor to press for his nod to prosecute the politicians," he said.
Adarsh
babus allege bias;
All the
bureaucrats indicted by the Adarsh judicial commission have voiced concerns
against the panel's bias. In nearly identical letters to chief secretary J S
Saharia, they have alleged that despite provisions in the commission of inquiry
act, they were not heard before the strictures were passed against them. In
fact, a section of bureaucrats specifically told the commission that if
strictures are passed against them in the final report, they should be heard,
since the commission of inquiry act specifically provides that if critical
remarks are to be passed, then an opportunity should be given to him.
Saharia has
assured them that their applications will be considered while initiating
disciplinary proceedings against them. Now, senior bureaucrats have raised a
new issue. Their contention is that while the panel has held 12 bureaucrats
guilty of securing flats for their kin close relatives or misuse of official
position, no action has been taken against those bureaucrats who took the final
decisions. While specific complaints by activist Simpreet Singh were submitted
to the environment department on the rampant irregularities in the society and
no action was taken. No official from the environment department finds mention
in the Adarsh commission report. Same was the case with the MMRDA and BEST too.
While MMRDA
and BEST officials were found responsible for dereliction of duty, all of them
were given clean chit. "After the final report's submission, the
commission ceases to exist, it was for Saharia to find out the truth, says an
ex-chief secretary.
.JPG)
.JPG)
