From April 1, the Shinde-Fadnavis Government suspends grant disbursement and the implementation of various District Plan Projects

The Shinde-Fadnavis government has halted the disbursement of funds under the District Planning Development Council, dealing another blow to the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government (DPDC). Former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who held the planning and finance departments, upped the allocation for district planning to Rs 13,340 crore in his annual budget for 2022-23, which was submitted in March, from Rs 11,035 crore in 2021-22. Pawar, who had travelled extensively in various districts and met with NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress ministers, had strongly justified the increase in allocation for the district plan, claiming that it would provide a further boost to district development and revitalize the economy, which had been harmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The government's decision came just days after it halted a Rs 6,00 crore payout for the Nashik district in a meeting presided over by former Food and Civil Supply Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The government's action is intended to reconsider the allocation and payout made previously by the MVA administration, as the Shinde camp and the BJP have claimed that they received insufficient funds.

 

The planning department's government resolution, announced on July 4, coincided with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's trust vote in the state assembly. Shinde said in his address that the breakaway Shiv Sena MPs had complained about receiving less funds during the MVA government and that the new government will allocate more funds to them as well as BJP legislators.

 

"The administration will shortly nominate district guardian ministers and DPDC presidents, as well as reconstitute the DPDCs with new members." As a result, administrative approvals given beginning April 1 for various works and money disbursements beginning April 1 have been suspended. The government resolution states that "these activities will be carried out only after the nomination of new district guardian ministers and administrative permissions."

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @SanjayJog7