“I am not against giving financial benefit to the mining dependents but government in violation of model code of conduct released nearly Rs 19 crore between, March 19 to April 16 to truck owners. They voted for the BJP…I lost the election…,” Reginaldo told the House during the question hour Thursday morning.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was quick to respond to the allegations saying ‘many took the benefits but voted for the Congress’.
Defending himself further, Parrikar said that “the model code of conduct does not restrict release of funds under ongoing schemes…you cannot sanction (grants for) new beneficiaries…(and) cannot announce new schemes.”
He said that Rs 93 crore dues were pending for the last financial year, which he had to clear by releasing around Rs 8 crore every month and “I did the same during those months.”
As per the report tabled in the House there are 9327 trucks with 6963 beneficiaries, registered for the financial package due to closure of mines.
Each truck owner is given Rs 8000 for the first truck and Rs 4,000 for the second truck per month under the umbrella scheme on mining.
