The state government comprising just Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis has set a new record of issuing 749 government resolutions (GRs) since swearing-in on June 30. This is unprecedented as there has been no cabinet expansion and portfolio allocation and the CM is the lone signatory.
Incidentally, these GRs are purely administrative in nature relating to filling up of deputation posts, provisional seniority lists, establishment of committees, purchase of drugs and disbursement of state shares. However, relief for rain-hit farmers is missing from the list, despite repeated demands from the Opposition. On an average, 25 GRs were issued daily.
On June 30, after the swearing-in ceremony, the state government had released 63 GRs, of which 14 were by the general administration department, public health department (seven), schools education and sports (six), soil and water conservation (six), revenue and forest (five), water resources (five) and rural development (four).
Of the 749 GRs, a record 91 have been issued by the public health department, and only two by the environment department, which was earlier held by Aaditya Thackeray who had brought glamour to this low key department.
On July 12, a total of 70 GRs were issued on a single day, of which 36 were by the department of water supply and sanitation, which was held by firebrand Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil in the MVA government; he has now joined the Shinde camp.
The department-wise GRs issued so far include water supply and sanitation (83), school education and sports (50), revenue and forest (44), water resources (41), agriculture (35), tribal development (29), rural development (28), home (27), medical education (24), soil and water conservation (24), skill development (19) and urban development (19).