Mumbai: The allocations to a state government-run think tank—ranging from a Malabar Hill bungalow and office space at Nariman Point to a brand new car—is raising eyebrows and drawing criticism from the Opposition.
In its latest move, the planning department has issued a government resolution to buy a Rs 15-lakh car for the CEOof the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Praveen Pardeshi.This comes on the heels of the allotment of a BMC bungalow at Malabar Hill to him and a decision to rent office space for MITRA in a prime Nariman Point highrise at Rs 21 lakh per month.
The opposition has questioned the utility of MITRA and its contribution in the last one year.
In September, the government decided to shell out around Rs 2.5 crore per year on renting the approx. 8,000 sqft office in Nirmal Bhavan for the institution.
Government had allotted a 1,200 sq ft space to it in the state-owned New Administrative Building but MITRA officials claimed the space was less.
Ajay Ashar, a developer from Thane and an associate of chief minister Eknath Shinde, is vice-chairman of MITRA. Shinde is its chairperson. MITRA, set up on the lines of the Niti Aayog, is meant to focus on data analysis and make informed decisions on key sectors. Its CEO Pardeshi also heads the Capacity Building Commission set up by the PMO.
Leader of Opposition in the legislative council Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena UBT) said he will raise the issue of MITRA’s performance in the upcoming winter session of the legislature.
“MITRA was set up to rehabilitate retired babus and friends of the CM. This is just an avenue for these people to carry out ‘business’ sitting in Mantralaya through an official channel. This is wasteful expenditure of public money,” Danve said.
When asked, Pardeshi said office space to accommodate nearly 60 experts was approved for MITRA and so was a car and a house at the level of an additional chief secretary.
“I only take a salary from the central government as member, Capacity Building Commission. I take zero salary from the state government though I am entitled to it. One must compare MITRA to the NITI Aayog at the Centre,” Pardeshi said.
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In its latest move, the planning department has issued a government resolution to buy a Rs 15-lakh car for the CEOof the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Praveen Pardeshi.This comes on the heels of the allotment of a BMC bungalow at Malabar Hill to him and a decision to rent office space for MITRA in a prime Nariman Point highrise at Rs 21 lakh per month.
The opposition has questioned the utility of MITRA and its contribution in the last one year.
In September, the government decided to shell out around Rs 2.5 crore per year on renting the approx. 8,000 sqft office in Nirmal Bhavan for the institution.
Government had allotted a 1,200 sq ft space to it in the state-owned New Administrative Building but MITRA officials claimed the space was less.
Ajay Ashar, a developer from Thane and an associate of chief minister Eknath Shinde, is vice-chairman of MITRA. Shinde is its chairperson. MITRA, set up on the lines of the Niti Aayog, is meant to focus on data analysis and make informed decisions on key sectors. Its CEO Pardeshi also heads the Capacity Building Commission set up by the PMO.
Leader of Opposition in the legislative council Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena UBT) said he will raise the issue of MITRA’s performance in the upcoming winter session of the legislature.
“MITRA was set up to rehabilitate retired babus and friends of the CM. This is just an avenue for these people to carry out ‘business’ sitting in Mantralaya through an official channel. This is wasteful expenditure of public money,” Danve said.
When asked, Pardeshi said office space to accommodate nearly 60 experts was approved for MITRA and so was a car and a house at the level of an additional chief secretary.
“I only take a salary from the central government as member, Capacity Building Commission. I take zero salary from the state government though I am entitled to it. One must compare MITRA to the NITI Aayog at the Centre,” Pardeshi said.
We also published the following articles recently
Ready for debates but ensure right atmosphere: Government to opposition
The winter session of Parliament is set to see heated exchanges between the government and opposition, with the impending expulsion of TMC member Mahua Moitra from Lok Sabha in the ‘cash for query’ case. The session will also focus on three bills to amend criminal laws and a proposed law for the appointment of election commissioners. The assembly election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana will further heat up the political atmosphere. The opposition has requested discussions on various issues, including the situation in Manipur, rising inflation, unemployment, and the misuse of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI. There are concerns about the imposition of Hindi through the names of laws, particularly regarding the three bills to replace IPC, CrPC, and the Indian Evidence Act. The TMC leaders have criticized the government for reducing the significance of all-party meetings and not adequately informing opposition parties about the bills being brought in the House. The Shiv Sena leader has emphasized the need for a discussion on the issue of reservation for the Maratha and Dhangar communities, which has been a subject of debate in Maharashtra.
The winter session of Parliament is set to see heated exchanges between the government and opposition, with the impending expulsion of TMC member Mahua Moitra from Lok Sabha in the ‘cash for query’ case. The session will also focus on three bills to amend criminal laws and a proposed law for the appointment of election commissioners. The assembly election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana will further heat up the political atmosphere. The opposition has requested discussions on various issues, including the situation in Manipur, rising inflation, unemployment, and the misuse of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI. There are concerns about the imposition of Hindi through the names of laws, particularly regarding the three bills to replace IPC, CrPC, and the Indian Evidence Act. The TMC leaders have criticized the government for reducing the significance of all-party meetings and not adequately informing opposition parties about the bills being brought in the House. The Shiv Sena leader has emphasized the need for a discussion on the issue of reservation for the Maratha and Dhangar communities, which has been a subject of debate in Maharashtra.
Nominated chiefs of 20 state-run corporations quit
Several chairpersons of state-run corporations in Telangana, including Telangana State Planning Board, Civil Supplies, Telangana State Dairy Development Corporation, Telangana Sahitya Academy, Telangana State Toddy Tappers Corporation, Telangana Sports Authority, TS Foods Corporation, Textile Corporation, Telangana Beverages Corporation, Telangana State Film Development, TSREDCO, TSMIDC, Telangana State Technological Services, Brahmina Sankshema Parishad, CM’s chief PRO, State Grandhalaya Samstha, and Ayachitham Sridhar, have resigned from their posts.
Several chairpersons of state-run corporations in Telangana, including Telangana State Planning Board, Civil Supplies, Telangana State Dairy Development Corporation, Telangana Sahitya Academy, Telangana State Toddy Tappers Corporation, Telangana Sports Authority, TS Foods Corporation, Textile Corporation, Telangana Beverages Corporation, Telangana State Film Development, TSREDCO, TSMIDC, Telangana State Technological Services, Brahmina Sankshema Parishad, CM’s chief PRO, State Grandhalaya Samstha, and Ayachitham Sridhar, have resigned from their posts.