Loan waiver’s IT dept head sent on leave?

Mumbai: In what seems a fallout of the technical snags that have plagued the implementation of the Maharashtra government’s Rs 34,022 crore farmer loan waiver scheme, principal secretary of the Information Technology department Vijay Kumar Gautam has gone on 15 days leave and charge of the department has been given to another officer. But chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that Mr Gautam has gone on leave for his “personal reason”.

“Mr Gautam has gone on leave for his personal reason. All hurdles in implementation of the scheme are cleared now. The maximum waiver will be given by November 25,” Mr Fadnavis told The Asian Age.

Mr Gautam was in charge of the information and technology part of the loan waiver scheme. However, technical snags in implementing the scheme meant the government faced criticism from all corners.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders like Member of Parliament Raju Shetti and others have levelled serious allegations against Kaustubh Dhavse, Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister’s Office. Mr Shetti had alleged that problems in the implementation of the loan waiver scheme was the fault of one private company and Mr Dhavse is connected to it. But the state government had refuted the charges.

The Prime Minister’s Office has taken cognisance of the confusion in implementation of the  scheme and it had asked the CMO for an explanation. Sources said Mr Gautam has been sent on leave as a result of all these developments. In his absence S.V.R. Srinivas, in charge of Dharavi redevelopment project, took additional charge of the department on Monday itself. Mr Fadnavis said, “Government has not asked Mr Gautam to go on leave. Now all technical issues are resolved.”