In yet another blow to the Shiv Sena led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, the Shinde-Fadnavis government has stayed the disbursement of funds from April 1 under the District Planning Development Council (DPDC). The former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was holding planning and finance departments, in his annual budget for 2022-23 presented in March had increased the allocation for district plan to Rs 13,340 crore from Rs 11,035 crore in 2021-22. Pawar, who had travelled extensively in various districts and held meetings with the NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress ministers, had strongly justified the increase in allocation for district plan saying that it will give further boost for the development in districts and revive the economy which was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The government’s decision came days after it had stayed the disbursement of Rs 6,00 crore finalised for Nashik district in the meeting chaired by the former food and civil supply minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The government’s move is aimed to revise the allocation and disbursement made earlier by MVA government as Shinde camp and BJP have cited that they had received minimal.
The government resolution issued on July 4 by the planning department coincided with the trust vote won by the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the state assembly. Shinde in his speech had claimed that the rebel Shiv Sena legislators had complained about less funds during the MVA government and therefore assured higher allocation of funds to them and also to BJP legislators by the new government.
‘’The government will soon appoint the district guardian ministers and presidents of the DPDC and also reconstitute the DPDCs with the appointment of new members. Therefore, the administrative approvals granted from April 1 for various works and fund disbursement from April 1 have been stayed. These works will be carried out only after the appointment of new district guardian ministers and the administrative approvals,’’ reads the government resolution.
