Maha: Congress criticises govt over smart meters, demands district status for Brahmapuri

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Launching a scathing attack on the state government, Congress Legislative Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday raised several critical issues in the Legislative Assembly, ranging from students' scholarships and the financial health of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to the stamp duty scam, smart meters, land grabbing, and alleged irregularities in Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) implemented schemes and AMRUT schemes.

Speaking during a debate on a motion moved by the opposition parties, Wadettiwar cornered the government over the installation of smart meters.

He alleged that while the government claims smart meters will not be forced upon citizens, on the ground they are being installed forcibly.

He pointed out that complaints of inflated electricity bills amounting to lakhs of rupees are pouring in from across the state, leaving citizens heavily burdened and distressed, and urged the government to intervene immediately.

Wadettiwar demanded the grant of independent district status to Brahmapuri, which is currently in Chandrapur district.

He drew the House's attention to the plight of a student from the minority community studying at the University of Sydney in Australia. Despite being sanctioned a government scholarship, the student has not received his tuition fees and living allowance, plunging him into a severe financial and mental crisis.

Wadettiwar revealed that the distressed student had attempted suicide and demanded that the government immediately release the sanctioned scholarship funds.

Raising the issue of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) finances, the Congress leader questioned the nearly Rs 4,000 crore drop in BMC's fixed deposits within a single year. He questioned where the money was spent, adding that despite such massive expenditure, citizens are left without basic safety as the first rains of the season have already led to multiple deaths, manhole accidents, and tree-falling incidents.

Wadettiwar levelled serious allegations across various sectors and demanded high-level inquiries in the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link Project. He pointed out numerous complaints about contractors' work quality and demanded an inquiry.

He alleged that a nexus of land mafias, corrupt officials, and influential local elements have illegally set up industries on government lands in Uran, Panvel, and Pen under the guise of JNPT.

Claiming that this generates monthly black money of Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore, he demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.

He alleged that around 50 houses under the Indira Awas Yojana were razed to the ground in Shirdi and demanded immediate action against the Shirdi Chief Officer.

Citing irregularities in the Kothrud SRA case and TDR scams involving bogus slums in Pimpri-Chinchwad, he demanded independent inquiries into these multi-crore frauds.

Stating that the AMRUT scheme has failed to yield the expected results despite crores of rupees being spent, he called for a statewide review and for action against responsible officials.

He also demanded an SIT probe into the multi-crore illegal registration of documents and stamp duty evasion.

Touching upon industrialisation in the Gadchiroli-Chandrapur belt, Wadettiwar noted that while industries and a MIDC are coming up in Gondpipri (Chandrapur), fertile agricultural land is being acquired against the will of locals. He stated that villagers have barred the local MLA from entering villages in protest. Similarly, locals are opposing the acquisition of fertile land for the Gadchiroli airport project.

He questioned why fertile land was being acquired when forest department land could be used, warning that compulsory acquisition would ruin farmers' livelihoods.

Wadettiwar also championed the cause of revenue servants (Mahasul Sevak), demanding that their monthly stipend be increased to at least Rs 25,000 and that they be accommodated in regular government service while maintaining existing reservation policies.

Concluding his speech, the Opposition leader demanded that instead of giving hollow assurances, the government must take concrete decisions, conduct transparent investigations, and strictly punish the guilty.