As the winter session of the Maharashtra state legislature prepares to commence in Nagpur, a stark contrast has emerged between the government's directives for fiscal prudence and the lavish, unnecessary spending observed at ministers' official residences in Ravi Bhavan. This comes despite clear instructions from the state leadership to curb all non-essential expenditure during the session.
Austerity Orders Ignored: New Furniture Replaces Perfectly Good Sets
In a shocking example of waste, furniture installed just last year and still in excellent condition has been removed from ministers' bungalows. Officials revealed that these items have been dumped into a warehouse behind Ravi Bhavan. This wholesale replacement with new sets has incurred an unnecessary cost of over Rs 40 crore to the state exchequer. The Public Works Department (PWD) is now reportedly considering auctioning off the nearly-new discarded furniture.
Extravagant Temporary Structures and Unpaid Contractors
The profligacy extends beyond furniture. Sources indicate that a temporary hangar with a large dome has been erected at Ravi Bhavan to accommodate ministers' staff. This short-term structure, complete with toilets and tiled flooring, is estimated to have cost around Rs 1.5 crore. Doubts persist whether staff will even use this facility, potentially preferring to stay in star hotels instead.
This spending spree occurs against a troubling backdrop of unpaid bills. Until recently, contractors had threatened to halt all winter session-related work over outstanding dues amounting to a staggering Rs 150 crore. After work stoppages, they resumed only after the state government released a part of the payment.
Directives for Cost-Cutting Rendered Meaningless
The wasteful arrangements at Ravi Bhavan are in direct contradiction to official austerity measures. To control costs, the chief secretary's office had instructed all administrative departments to cut staff deployment by 20% for the session. Smaller departments were asked to limit personnel to just 17, with larger ones making proportional reductions.
Sources allege that the demands for this unnecessary expenditure are being driven by the personal assistants and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) of the ministers. With the winter session beginning on Monday, these actions have raised serious questions about the government's commitment to fiscal responsibility and the persistent culture of spending public money with impunity.
