Maharashtra finance department stays procurement of 'unnecessary items' till March 31, cites 'huge spend'

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Maharashtra finance department on Wednesday ordered to put on hold the procurement of "unnecessary items" such as spare parts for computers and photocopy machines till March 31 in the wake of "huge spending" in the last three months, reported news agency PTI.

A circular addressed to all departments also disallows repair works of the existing furniture and organising routine workshops and seminars by various state departments.

The order, however, has exempted the procurement of medicines by the government hospitals and the ongoing schemes where funding comes from the Centre as well as the state, reported PTI.

It stated that the ongoing projects being funded by non-governmental agencies and foreign funding will be exempted from this ban.

"The government has noticed that a huge amount is spent during the last three months of the financial year. The state has thus decided not to give permission to any such procurement orders or proposals submitted to the Maharashtra finance department on and after 15 February," the circular said, reported PTI.

It also clarified that the order will remain effective till March 31.

The daily consumed items procurement will not be affected by this decision, but all the departments are asked not to make any additional purchases, which would be carried forward to the next financial year, the circular said, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, a special session of the Maharashtra legislature would be held on February 20 to discuss reservation and other demands of the Maratha community, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Office said on Wednesday evening, reported PTI.

The decision came as the hunger strike of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who had demanded that such a session be called, entered its fifth day and he was given IV fluids in view of deteriorating health.

The quota and other issues of the Maratha community were discussed in the state cabinet meeting after which it was decided to hold a special session, the CMO statement said, reported PTI.

After Jarange organised a march to Mumbai with thousands of his supporters last month, the government issued a draft notification which said if a Maratha person has documentary proof to show that he or she belongs to the agrarian Kunbi community, the person's 'sage soyre' or blood relatives too would get Kunbi caste certificates.

(With inputs from PTI)