Govt seeks report from depts on properties outside MP

Bhopal: The state finance department has asked all departments to send report on properties of MP outside the state. The finance department has stated that chief secretary would soon review state's properties outside the state. The order was issued on May 17. Officials said they would review information received from departments and send it for the perusal of chief secretary. The departments have been also issued a format in which information on the state's properties is to be given.Irked by the govt’s move, Congress has alleged that it is seeking such information with a purpose to sell or lease out state properties to run the cash-starved govt. Opposition has also demanded govt to release a white paper on the state's economic situation. State Congress president Jitu Patwari has posted on social media, “shocking information is coming out! The MP government, which is in debt of Rs 3.73 lakh crore, is preparing to sell properties of different departments of MP in other states of the country and give them on rent”.The finance department has also written a letter to all departments seeking the information. It has asked how much property is there in which state and in what form, and what is the value? If a case is going on any property in the court or there is any kind of dispute, this information should also be given.Media reports say that the purpose of this exercise is to collect data of assets of various departments outside MP, so that money can be raised by selling it or giving it on rent. Along with giving information about the current nature of the property, information about its current value is also required.Addressing chief minister Mohan Yadav, Congress state president also posted, “At last you too have started following the tradition of #Modiji! When loans were stopped, an option was found to sell state's property. Don't understand who your financial advisor is? It is difficult to remember when such investments/contracts were made to secure the future financially! Today, when even a child born in MP has a loan of more than Rs 50,000, how can you take such a decision?”Patwari also wrote, “A natural question will definitely arise in mind of the public that your "on-the-ground experience" should be useful in this big game of buying and selling of land, that is why this option has been chosen? The public also believes that there will be 1000% manipulation in this game with the intention of benefiting a few capitalists! My clear demand is that the Madhya Pradesh government, which is stuck in economic crisis, should tell people the reality of the government treasury! Also disclose status and liabilities of loans taken in last 20 years!The state Congress committee has also demanded that the government should immediately release a white paper on the economic situation of the state. Interestingly, in February 2020 when the Congress govt was in power in MP, it too sought the same information from all departments. The then Congress government was also planning to generate income from government owned unused land and properties. The government also eyed spacious circuit houses and bungalows under the public works department (PWD) and irrigation department, apart from properties of state roadways and those in other states, to generate revenue.The then chief secretary has shot a missive to all department heads to prepare a detailed list of properties in their possession or encroached by outsiders, in dilapidated condition or left unused, so that income could be generated through them to meet department expenses. The details were to be submitted by March, but the govt came down after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined BJP along with his MLAs.
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