Maharashtra asks for detailed report on 30 DCBs

Blaming the Congress and NCP for duping the cooperative banking sector of thousands of crores of rupees, the state government has instructed the departmental secretary to prepare a detailed report of all 30 district cooperative banks, fix liability and responsibility for the losses, and attach properties of those responsible to recover the losses.

Speaking about the NCP protesting the state government’s handling of drought and other issues, senior BJP minister Eknath Khadse pinned responsibility for the current cooperative banking situation on the NCP and Congress.

“Till Sharad Pawar, Vasantrao Naik, Vasantdada Patil were Chief Ministers, the state was ahead in the cooperative movement. The movement created jobs more than those by the government and the share of cooperative sector in the state’s development was amazing. But during the past 15 years, the movement has dwindled. Maximum cooperative sugar mills, cotton mills, dairies and starch factories have either shut down or are controlled by liquidators. Mainly, recent leaders from both Congress and NCP are responsible for the situation,” he said.

In a meeting with Agriculture and Cooperative Secretary Dr Shailesh Kumar Sharma on Monday at Mantralaya, Mr Khadse took stock of the financial position of district cooperative banks and amount of crop loans provided to farmers. The Jalgaon District Cooperative Bank under control of Mr Khadse distributed the highest crop loan of Rs 1,400 crore during the past four months. However, the second largest amount distributed was Rs 350 crore.

Mr Khadse said that the difference of amount distributed by the two banks was Rs 1,000 crore which was not good for Maharashtra. NCP had looted money that was given to DCC banks by the state government. They had used state funds for wrong purposes or their own purposes. “Several DCC banks controlled by NCP misused amounts meant for salaries of primary and secondary teachers. These teachers are asking our government to pay the arrears,” he said.

The amount of bank guarantee given by the state to various cooperative cotton and sugar mills was more than Rs 1,200 crore which was yet to recovered. Hence, they had decided to take action against the responsible directors; Mr Khadse said.

The state had given instructions to prepare detailed reports of all DCC banks, amounts given to them by the state, total recovery and fix responsibility of duped amounts on the then directors. “We will attach properties of responsible directors and will recover the amount with an auction of their properties,” warned Mr Khadse.