The Vidarbha statutory development board whose term is due to expire on April 30 has sought extension of its term.
The board, which met under the chairmanship of former MLA Tukaram Birkad here yesterday, adopted a resolution in this
regard which would be sent to the governor of Maharashtra and
to the state government.
The Board came into existence as per the provision of the Constitution of India under article 371 (2) thereby empowering
the Maharashtra governor to allocate funds to different
sectors and regions on equitable basis, Birkad told reporters.
Term of the present Board constituted by the president of India will expire next month end. But the developmental backlog decided by the Indicator Backlog panel in 1994 has not been fulfilled so far, he said.
In view of the reports of planning commission's committee headed by Adarsh Mishra in March 2006 on the agrarian crisis and farmers suicides in Vidarbha region and also a review of the Central planning commission in April 2003, there is a need for giving extension to the Board, Birkad said.
He pointed out that the Bombay High Court in a judgement on May 6, 2008 has said that the onus of removing backwardness of Vidarbha (and Marathwada) is on governor as per constitutional provision.
Meanwhile, former state minister and member-expert of the board, Adv Madhukar Kimmatkar criticised the state government
for not implementing the directives of the governor.
In a memorandum to the governor and the state government, he said that as against the outlay or allocation made by the governor, the actual expenditure in Vidarbha region was very less as compared to other regions.
The remaining backlog of 1994 assessed by the committee will take some years for removal and by the time new backog will be created, he said.
Quoting the Adarsh Mishra panel report, Kimmatkar said the irrigation backlog of Vidarbha region has increased from 38.05% in 1982 to 62.20% in year 2002. On the other hand that of Rest of Maharashtra has progressively declined from 39% in 1982 to 4.73% as on April1, 2002.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report for the year 2006-07 has also indicted state government for diversion of funds meant for Vidarbha. Vidarbha has been robbed of 70% of its funds, he said adding that a provision of Rs 3119.79 crore was made by governor but state government alloted only Rs 1391.58 crore that resulted in a backlog of Rs 2,528 crore.
Babasaheb Kupekar, chairman of state planning commission and ex-officio member of the board also attended the meeting.
