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Fresh allocation for irrigation in Maharashtra plan

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI MAY 8. In an unprecedented development, the Maharashtra Legislature today allotted a fresh Rs. 2,751 crores in its annual plan to fund the neutralisation of investment backlog in the irrigation sector in the backward regions of the State — Vidarbha, Marathwada and Konkan.

However, the new allocation fell short of meeting the April 10 recommendation of the upper House that the Appropriation Bill 2003-04 itself be amended to give it budgetary sanctity. Sufficient off-budget debt needs to be mobilised to meet this increased allocation of Rs. 2,751 crores from Rs. 369.37 crores.

Today's session had been necessitated after the upper House on April 10 passed a recommendation for provision of Rs 2,751 crore in the financial statement for 2003-04 for the irrigation of backward regions but by that time the lower House had been prorogued.

Uproarious scenes marked today's session when the Government said the Appropriations Bill already adopted could not be touched. The Speaker, Arun Gujarathi, ruled that the Bill could either be rejected or approved by the Upper House as adopted by the Assembly without any amendments under Art 198(2) of the Constitution within 14 days. When the directive from the Governor came, it was for making appropriate allocations in the Annual Plan, not the Appropriation Bill. A resolution moved by Finance Minister, Jayant Patil, irked the Opposition which wanted changes only in the Bill as sought by the Council.

Narayan Rane (Shiv Sena) and Gopinath Munde (BJP), wanted the taped proceedings of the Upper House heard. But the Government stuck to its intent to "heed the spirit" of the Council. Noisy scenes led to the Assembly being adjourned four times and finally the Bill was put to voice vote. At this, the members of the Shiv Sena and the BJP rushed to the Speaker's podium and a member even snatched the mace. He was, however, intercepted by the security. Amid chaos and slogan-shouting, the House adopted the motion on the recommendations by voice vote.

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