Nagpur: The ongoing winter session of Maharashtra legislature in Nagpur is bringing up its own share of stories. While the netas, babus and dignitaries from the corridors of power may have been busy tackling the wrath of opposition party leaders in Vidhan Bhawan, they certainly rest in the lap of luxury at the end of the day!
Having said that, we literally mean luxury! Leaving aside the spruced up MLA hostels, Nag Bhavan, government rest houses and other residential bungalows, the mighty and powerful MLAs and their aides have chosen to put up their stay in the cozy comfort of plush city hotels. This has raised concerns over the massive misuse of government coffer. The taxpayers’ money is used for the renovation and refurbishment of MLA hostel and other government residences in order to accomodate the MLAs and bureaucrats from Mantralaya during the winter session here.
Sources said that every year a large amount of money is spent on doing up the buildings which often remain unused by most of the MLAs, thanks to their love for luxury rooms of star rated hotels in Nagpur. Not only the netas, sources added, their aides also occupy rooms in the name of their bosses, adding to the miseries of the hotel owners.
Hotels apprehensive
Most of the hotels operating in Nagpur are wary of taking in the politicians, particularly MLAs visitng Nagpur during winter session. Firstly, the hotel management is often worried over the bills which are not paid most of the times, using political clout. Secondly, the rooms are in high demand during the current season owing to which the accomodation could not be managed for all. This situation usually leads to the wordy dual between the hotel staffer and PAs of the ministers.
In a recent incident a Hotel Radisson, an MLC reportedly indulged in verbal spat with the front desk executive as there was no room available. A source who witnessed the incident informed that the concerned MLC was adamant for checking in and trying to push the executive who also happened to be the relative of the hotel owner. “Not only this the MLC started throwing tantrums and used foul language, till his aides jumped in to pacify him,” added the source. The said MLA did not even bother to check into any government residence.
A source questioned his behaviour while hinting at the serious financial and moral repercussion of the incident. While all the money put into renovation of government hostels and buildings go in vain, the behaviour of such leaders often bring bad name to the ruling factions.
PAs of non-minister MLAs face the worst
However luxury does not come for all close aides of netas, Most of the MLAs who are not serving as ministers could not get room for their personal assistants. These PAs often remain discarded as they are not even allowed to enter Vidhan Bhawan. However a silver lining for them is that when their bosses get to relax in the cozy rooms of hotels, the empty rooms at MLA hostels serve them as relief points.
Nagpur Today View
At a time when the state government is reeling under severe financial crunch, spending big money on sprucing up the government bungalows and MLA hostels for the stay of bureacrats and netas proves to be sheer waste. Most of them make way to the plush hotels. This only causes a dent in the government treasure. It is high time such buildings should be put to good use by privatising it so that it should bring some revenue to the government. There is no point in wasting tax payers money at all.
