Krishna restrains govt from spending entire amount of Rs 1,041 cr

Mumbai, Mar 29 (UNI) The Maharashtra government today admitted that it has been restraind by Governor S M Krishna from spending the entire amount of Rs 1,041 crore, the supplementary demands of which had been passed by the Lower House last week.

Finance Minister Jayant Patil told the Legislative Assembly that the Governor had asked the government not to release Rs 550 crore from the supplementary demands, while according his approval for expenditure of Rs 150 crore for Vidarbha and Rs 50 crore for Konkan region from the Contingency Fund.

Mr Patil said the Governor had directed expenditure of Rs 100 crore for Tapi irrigation development corporation in North Maharashtra as against Rs 387 crore approved in the Supplementary demands.

The minister said that Rs 287 crore were diverted to rehabilitation of project affected and towards land accquisition in Western Maharashtra.

The vote on account bill was later passed by a voice vote amid noisy scenes from the Opposition members.

Even as the Opposition BJP members were vociferously protesting against the imbalance in distribution of funds for irrigation purpose to all region, Mr Patil announced that the 15 per cent hike in water charges for irrigation purpose would be withdrawn.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said the government was willing to lead a delegation of all party MLAs to the Governor to convey the sentiments of ''injustice'' to the North Maharashtra region.

Earlier, when the House assembled in the morning, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had said that the remaining Rs 287 crore would be provided to North Maharashtra in the supplementary demands during the monsoon session.

The issue was raised by Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam, demanding an explanation from the government on what transpired between the Governor, Chief Minister and the Finance Minister on approving the introduction of the Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill.

The issue of curtailing funds to North Maharashtra brought two arch rivals from the region--former minister Suresh Jain (NCP) and former Finance Minister in the Sena-BJP government Eknath Khadse--together. Mr Khadse lashed out at the government for the continuous ''injustice'' meted out to the region, while Mr Jain threatened that MLAs from the region would resign enmasse and also not allow smooth passage of the budget 2006-07.

Mr Gopinath Munde (BJP) said the government was encouraging regional rift by diverting funds meant for backward regions to prosperous areas like Western Maharashtra.

Narsayya Adam (CPM) and Revenue Minister Narayan Rane expressed their concern over speeches which widen regional divide. Mr Rane wanted the government to seek legal opinion on whether supplementary demands once passed by the Legislative assembly could be curtailed.

UNI