Ajit Pawar denies claims on ₹90 crore spent on ministers' bungalow renovation

On Monday, December 14, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the reports about ₹90 crores being spent on the bungalow renovation of Ministers are false. He further added that according to the concerned department, data on expenditure has not been updated yet.

He also stated that due to the coronavirus crisis in the state, the economic situation has collapsed. In such a situation, the state government has cut many development works.

In addition to this, Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde has also refuted the reports about ₹3 crores spent on his bungalow renovation. The minister also stated that he shifted to the place just a week ago and has not done any renovation work.

However, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Praveen Darekar, while speaking to the media on the issue, strongly criticized the Thackeray government. He said that do they not know what to spend in an emergency? They should be aware of what to be prioritized.

The winter session of the Maharashtra legislative assembly is underway. On December 14, five Ordinances, 10 Bills, including two related to Shakti Act, which deals with women security, are scheduled are being tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Five ordinances will be tabled today in Legislative councils. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will table Public Accounts Committee report for the year 2019-20 in both the Houses.

Moreover, according to sources, the government has spent funds on renovation for various ministers. Reportedly, ₹3.26 crores have been spent for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Varsha Bungalow and ₹1.78 lakh for Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's Devgiri Bungalow. While the Environment Minister Aaditya Thackray's Satpura Bungalow received funding of ₹1.33 crore, and ₹2. 26 crores have been spent for Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat's Stone Royal.

Apart from this, ₹1.46 crore was spent on the Meghdoot bungalow of Minister Ashok Chavan, ₹3.89 crores on the Chitrakoot bungalow of Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde, ₹1.44 crore on the Shivneri bungalow of Industries Minister Subhash Desai and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s Ramtek bunglow have spent ₹1.67 crore.