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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony)...

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony) organized by the BJP Kisan Morcha at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan on Wednesday, Fadnavis declared that farmers using agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 horsepower will see their historical electricity dues completely wiped out. The announcement was met with the traditional sounding of the Tutari and thunderous applause from hundreds of farmers who had gathered from every corner of the state. The Chief Minister framed the mega-sop as a necessary step to “wipe the farmers’ slate clean,” enabling them to write a new chapter of prosperity. Calculated Pitch The timing and scale of the announcement underscore a government that is boldly embracing populist economics to solidify its political footprint in rural Maharashtra. While Fadnavis maintained that these decisions were taken purely in the interest of the farmers—pointing out that the original loan waiver was announced when no elections were in sight—the political undertones were unmistakable. Taking a sharp dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister accused rival parties of running “political shops” in the name of farmer agitations without understanding the government’s genuine intent. Asserting his grassroots connection, Fadnavis proudly claimed, “I do not make decisions sitting in my house. I am a farmer myself, a man of the soil.” He openly defended the government’s recent move to strip away the stringent conditions attached to the blanket farm loan waiver, signaling that his administration will not hesitate to clear bureaucratic hurdles if it means putting money directly into the hands of the rural voter. Balancing Sops Even as he rained freebies, the Chief Minister attempted to balance the populist optics with a dose of economic pragmatism. He acknowledged that handing out repeated loan waivers is a symptom of deep-rooted agrarian distress, not a permanent cure. Pointing to the Rs 95,000 crore in aid currently being pumped into the agricultural sector by the state and central governments, Fadnavis outlined his administration’s shift toward an investment-driven agricultural model. He championed the success of schemes like ‘Jalyukt Shivar’ and ‘Magel Tyala Shettale’ (farm ponds on demand), claiming these initiatives have already empowered farmers to harvest multiple crops a year. Addressing the core issue of farming costs, he noted that the government already subsidises power to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore annually. By coupling this with a push for solar pumps and solar agricultural feeders, he promised that 100 percent of the state’s farmers would receive uninterrupted daytime electricity by the end of the year. Infra Dream Looking beyond immediate financial relief, the Chief Minister laid out a grandiose vision to permanently drought-proof Maharashtra’s most vulnerable regions. A staggering Rs 6 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline is being planned to ensure the next generation never witnesses a drought. Fadnavis detailed ambitious river-linking projects, including the Wainganga-Nalganga link, to divert excess floodwaters to parched regions. The state plans to construct 24 new dams and raise the height of 16 existing ones to ensure not a single district in Vidarbha faces water scarcity. Furthermore, massive engineering feats are on the drawing board to divert 200 TMC of floodwater from Western Maharashtra to Marathwada, and lift 275 TMC of wasted water from the Ulhas basin to quench the thirst of North Maharashtra and Marathwada. By marrying immediate, massive debt relief with long-term infrastructure promises, the Fadnavis administration is aggressively cementing its pro-farmer narrative. As the Yashwantrao Chavan auditorium echoed with whistles and cheers, it became highly evident that the government’s strategy of pairing mega populist waivers with big-ticket rural dreams is striking a powerful chord with the state’s agrarian voters.

Road Accidents: The Silent Epidemic and the Science of Investigation

Road accidents in India are increasingly emerging as a silent national crisis, demanding far greater attention than they currently receive. As per data published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the country records over 4.7 lakh road accidents annually. These accidents lead to approximately 1.75 to 1.80 lakh deaths every year, translating into an alarming average of nearly 500 fatalities every single day.


Even more troubling is the age profile of victims. Nearly two-thirds belong to the 18–34 age group, effectively striking at the country’s most productive demographic. Over speeding continues to be the single largest contributor, accounting for over 60 per cent of total fatalities. This indicates that a combination of behavioural negligence and weak enforcement is driving this crisis.


Despite such staggering numbers, road accident investigation in India remains largely rudimentary. Investigations often rely on eyewitness accounts, FIR (First Information Report) narratives, and basic mechanical inspection of vehicles rather than adopting a scientific and evidence-based approach.


Inadequate investigation frequently leads to incorrect attribution of fault. It also weakens prosecution in criminal trials and creates inconsistencies in insurance and compensation claims. The judiciary has also underscored this concern in cases such as State of Karnataka v. Satish, where it was clearly observed that mere high speed cannot be equated with rash or negligent driving unless supported by cogent evidence, thereby reinforcing the need for scientific investigation rather than presumptive conclusions.


Globally, accident investigation is being treated as a specialised forensic discipline, employing a range of advanced techniques to reconstruct events with precision. Skid mark analysis is being used to estimate speed and braking behaviour, while vehicle damage or dent analysis is helping determine the angle and force of impact. Paint transfer and trace evidence examination are proving critical in hit-and-run cases by linking vehicles to the scene.


Modern tools such as total station surveys and 3D laser mapping are enabling accurate reconstruction of accident sites. Event Data Recorders, often referred to as vehicle “black boxes", are capturing crucial pre-collision data such as speed, braking, and throttle position. In addition, CCTV footage and digital forensics are increasingly being integrated into investigations, particularly in urban areas. Biomechanical analysis is also assisting in understanding injury patterns to establish the sequence of impact.


Although India has initiated steps such as the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD), its implementation is still uneven, and the full potential of scientific investigation remains underutilised.


The importance of robust accident investigation is clearly reflected in several landmark cases in India. The BMW Hit-and-Run Case, registered in New Delhi in 1999, remains one of the most prominent examples where scientific and forensic evidence played a decisive role. In this case, a high-end BMW car ran over multiple pedestrians, resulting in fatalities. The subsequent investigation relied heavily on vehicle damage analysis, forensic linkage, and circumstantial reconstruction to establish guilt, ultimately leading to a conviction.


Another significant case is the Alister Anthony Pareira v. State of Maharashtra, arising out of a fatal accident in Mumbai, where multiple pavement dwellers were killed. The Supreme Court, while enhancing the sentence, emphasised the gravity of reckless driving and the necessity of treating such offences with seriousness, reflecting a growing judicial recognition of road safety concerns.


However, despite the availability of scientific techniques, their adoption in India remains constrained by institutional and operational limitations.


As road accidents continue to claim nearly 1.8 lakh lives annually, the urgency of strengthening scientific investigation cannot be overstated. Proper accident investigation is not merely about determining liability; it is about uncovering the truth, ensuring justice, and, most importantly, preventing future tragedies.


(Kumar is a retired IPS officer and forensic advisor to the Assam government. Reddy is a student of National Forensic University, Guwahati.)

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