Government is not serious about Mumbai, says Oppn

The state Opposition on Thursday alleged that the government is not serious about issues that affect Mumbai.

The state Opposition on Thursday alleged that the government is not serious about issues that affect Mumbai.

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“On Wednesday, during the discussion on Mumbai, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan came late and there was not enough time for our legislators to speak to him about the city,” said Eknath Khadse, leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly, during a press interaction along with Vinod Tawde, leader of the council. “Mumbai has always been ignored by the government and needs more attention,” Khadse added.

Khadse said high-rises, roads, and traffic congestion are issues that need the most attention and planning, and added: “There is absolutely no plan in place for the financial capital. The government should have been prepared with a pre-monsoon plan as well.”

Elaborating on the demand made by MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha for a separate ministry to Mumbai-related matters, Khadse said that the BJP is in a favour of creating a separate department for the coordination of planning agencies in the city. These include urban planning, road development and housing development authorities.

“A minister, who will keep a tab on the projects and their progress, should head this deparment. That minister will also be responsible for coordinating with the central agencies from whom sanctions are need and are often delayed,” he said.

The Opposition also complained that through the monsoon session, the government has not taken them seriously on important issues such as corruption and the involvement of ministers in high-profile cases. “Whether it was to do with PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s involvement with the Maharashtra Sadan or a white paper on irrigation, the government lacked seriousness and appeared as though it wanted to hide something,” Khadse said.

Tawde added that home minister RR Patil even advised him on the floor of the house to get a better lawyer for reporter Jigna Vora, when he alleged that she is being framed and that the real reason for journalist J Dey’s murder was an expose he was doing on bookies in the IPL.