Mumbai: Days after industries minister Uday Samant issued a letter saying his department’s officials were not keeping him in the loop about key policies, Dy CM Eknath Shinde held a review meeting of the industries department. CM Devendra Fadnavis had already held a review of the department in Jan as part of his ‘100 days’ programme for govt.
This is the second time Dy CM Shinde held a review meeting after Fadnavis’s review. Before this, he had reviewed preparations for the Mahakumbh at Nashik days after he skipped a meeting called by Fadnavis on the subject.
The opposition criticised the govt, saying it was involved less in work for the people and more in internal bickering. Apart from industries, Shinde also reviewed the Marathi language department, also headed by Samant.
In the meeting, Shinde said payment of arrears of workers in sick and closed factories should be made as priority and asked officials to immediately follow up with the National Company Law Tribunal. Shinde said MIDC should set up a special cell for this, and data of the industries that have gone to NCLT and those that could go should be updated and brought to NCLT’s attention.
The opposition said parallel meetings and cells were not helping. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said, “Separate cells have been established for the CM and both the DCMs to review projects. Now, on the lines of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, one Dy CM (Shinde) has started a separate medical aid cell, and it is believed the other Dy CM will also start a medical aid cell soon. There must be three CMs to make these squabbles of the ruling parties more dynamic. If necessary, three ministers for each department, three guardian ministers for each district should also be appointed.”
However, Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat told PTI on Monday no one should politicise Shinde’s decision to set up a health assistance cell as it is a welfare measure. He also said the CM taking control of CSR funds was not “appropriate since the latter can exercise his right through the CM Relief Fund.” The state social welfare minister added Shinde had a soft corner for the health department when he was CM and had prioritised clearing of files related to financial assistance for patients. “It is my duty to support the Dy CM’s health cell through my department and I will do it. It is everybody’s duty to back such an initiative,” he said.
