Maharashtra is the most affected state with 1.93 lakh of COVID-19 cases (File)
Mumbai:
A cash-strapped Maharashtra government has reportedly authorized the purchase of six luxury cars for ministers, deputies and senior officials in the sports and education departments at a total cost of Rs 1.37 crore.
Each car costs Rs 22.8 lakh and the purchase was informed by the finance department and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
It comes two days after Vijay Wadettiwar, a cabinet minister in charge of relief and rehabilitation, said the state should take out a loan to pay the salaries of government employees.
“The state situation is such that we will have to take out a loan to pay the salaries of government employees next month. Except for 3-4 departments, spending has been cut,” he said this week.
Wadettiwar blamed the center for lack of funds, but also said “there is no monetary crisis to manage the state of COVID-19.”
In March, the government said senior officials, including ministers and other elected officials, would only receive 40% of their monthly salary, with the rest due in two installments.
The state government’s decision to spend Rs 1.37 crore on luxury cars at this sensitive time was criticized by opposition BJP.
“This Maharashtra government has not supported its people. It has not protected the police, who are front line warriors and they cannot pay the wages of their employees. But they have money to buy luxury cars for their ministers, “said the BJP. Said Ram Kadam.
“We are asking the government to reverse the wage cuts and provide an economic package,” he added.
Maharashtra, which makes the largest industrial contribution to the country, has been struggling since the imposition of the foreclosure.
However, the government of chief minister Thackeray is expected to sign 12 contracts with foreign companies worth a total of 16,000 crore rupees, with the aim of reviving the state economy.
Maharashtra is also the state most affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, with 1.93 lakh of confirmed cases, including 8,376 deaths. In India, the number of confirmed cases approaches 6.5 lakh, with 18,655 deaths linked to the new coronavirus.
With the contribution of ANI
