Maharashtra to set up state CSR cell for better utilisation of corporate funds: CM Fadnavis

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed officials to establish a dedicated state CSR cell to ensure the effective utilisation of Corporate Social Responsibility CSR funds and channel greater financial support towards local selfgovernment institutions across MaharashtraThe directive was issued during a presentation meeting on the recommendations of the Sixth State Finance Commission held at the Chief Ministers official residence Varsha Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ashish Jaiswal was also presentFadnavis noted that Maharashtra receives the highest amount of CSR funding in the country and stressed the need for a structured mechanism to ensure that these funds are utilised efficiently for local development projects He said the proposed state CSR cell should identify and mobilise resources that can support urban and rural local bodiesInterestfree loan scheme for local selfgovernment institutionsThe Chief Minister also asked officials to explore the possibility of introducing an interestfree loan scheme for local selfgovernment institutions modelled on the Centres interestfree loan programme He directed the administration to examine the feasibility of providing such loans to support development and infrastructure projects undertaken by local bodiesFramework proposed for building permissions outside gaothan limitsDuring the meeting Fadnavis called for the development of a specific framework that would enable local selfgovernment institutions to grant building permissions for constructions located adjacent to but outside their designated gaothan limitsHe emphasised that adequate safeguards must be built into the system to prevent misuse of such powers To streamline the process he directed officials to develop a digital platform for granting and monitoring permissionsMeasures to curb illegal constructionsThe Chief Minister also instructed authorities to create a mechanism to curb illegal constructions outside Gram Panchayat gaothan limits particularly in rapidly growing semiurban areasExpansion of cadastral mapping and SVAMITVA SchemeFadnavis further directed officials to undertake comprehensive mapping of properties within the jurisdiction of local selfgovernment institutions through a cadastral mapping programme He also called for the expansion of the Centres SVAMITVA Scheme to include properties located outside gaothan limitsSixth State Finance Commission recommendations reviewedThe meeting reviewed all 42 recommendations submitted by the Sixth State Finance Commission The recommendations have been grouped under six broad themes including institutional reforms generation of own revenue sources tax assessment and regulation distribution of state funds transfer of funds to local bodies and strengthening the State Finance CommissionChief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal Additional Chief Secretary Finance OP Gupta Additional Chief Secretary Revenue Vikas Kharge Additional Chief Secretary Transport Sanjay Sethi Additional Chief Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation Vinita Ved Singhal Secretary Planning Shaila A and other senior officials attended the meetingAdditional Chief Secretary Financial Reforms Vikas Chandra Rastogi made a detailed presentation on the commissions recommendations