Fadnavis’ announcement of payment of 10,000 rupees to hospitals from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for every cheque given by patients that may be returned due to insufficient balance is noteworthy
Mumbai: After the demonetization move by the central government, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken many initiatives to bring in convenience for residents of the state. These initiatives have been welcomed by the citizens of the state.
The first major decision is that all state roads will be toll tax free till 18th November midnight. This includes all the toll booths in Mumbai (entry points and within Mumbai) and Maharashtra.
Further, he helped citizens by allowing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for payment of electricity bills, water bills, property tax or any kind of government dues. This was implemented with immediate effect. This facility will continue till 24th November midnight.
Fadnavis allowed traders and dealers to pay their sales tax dues, plus interest and penalties in cash by the demonetized high-value currency notes of 500 rupees and 1000 rupees. This facility will continue for the period that the Central Government decides.
Also, taking note of the inconvenience and difficulties being faced by patients in hospitals and their relatives, Fadnavis issued strict instructions to all private hospitals to accept cheques from patients in case of emergency. He has instructed Health Department officials to keep a close watch on the situation round the clock so that no inconvenience is caused to the citizens of Maharashtra. The Chief Minister has also opened helpline numbers 104 and 108 if any person comes across any kind of difficulty or non-cooperation from any hospital. In another step to avoid inconvenience, Fadnavis instructed all private hospitals to accept payment for treatment by cheque.
Not only that. He has also announced payment of 10,000 rupees to hospitals from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for every cheque given by patients that may be returned due to insufficient balance.
Fadnavis called an urgent meeting of officials at his residence in Mumbai and took many decisions for the convenience of citizens. He interacted with Secretaries and Reserve Bank of India officials to review the situation due to demonetization.
The decisions taken at this meeting were many. One was that Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was directed to allow free transport of up to 50 kg of vegetables per farmer on MSRTC buses till 24th November. This will help farmers reach the market with more ease and will also help them get a better price for their produce.
He also instructed to extend the exemption of toll tax till 18th November midnight. Service charges at border check posts are also exempted, but for penalties and pending dues, old notes of 500 rupees and 1000 rupees will be accepted.
Fadnavis instructed universities to accept exam and tuition fees by cheque instead of DD or pay order. He also instructed polytechnics to accept cheques towards fees for the convenience of students. School bus operators have agreed to cooperate and not withdraw their services.
In a major decision, the CM asked banks to arrange mobile vans in cities and interior areas of the state so that old notes can be easily exchanged within permissible limits.
The total amount collected through old notes by municipal bodies as property tax has netted Rs 650 crores, which is a record. Mahavitaran collected electricity bill dues amounting to 300 crore rupees. The collection of sales tax was pegged at 550 crore.
The break-up of the property tax and water bill dues collected by various urban local bodies in Maharashtra since the announcement of the initiative by Fadnavis are as follows (all rupees in lakhs) Mumbai 11,727, Navi Mumbai 2,256, Kalyan-Dombivali 2,875, Mira-Bhayendar 2,105, Virar 912, Ulhasnagar 2,377, Panvel 269, Bhiwandi 1,065, Pune 7,142, Pimpri-Chinchwad 518, Thane 2,250, Sangli 905, Kolhapur 485, Ahmednagar 532, Nashik 1,474, Dhule 745, Jalgaon 655, Malegaon 438, Solapur 1,628, Aurangabad 791, Nanded 702, Akola 274, Amravati 674, Nagpur 1,098, Parabhani 44, Latur 388 and Chandrapur 258.