*Dubs Rather as ‘failed Finance Minister’
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 16: Dubbing Abdul Rahim Rather as failed Finance Minister, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior People’s Democratic Party leader, Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said that Mr Rather tried to cover up his failures by quoting misleading figures in the budget document despite the fact that the present Government has failed to utilize the Plan funds and revenue gap has widened considerably. He also described the announcement regarding creation of administrative units as a political gimmick and said that the decision was taken keeping in view the elections.
Initiating the discussion on the Budget in the Legislative Assembly, Mr Baig said that Government has created wrong impression that J&K was getting more than its due from the Centre. “The fact is that J&K like the States of North East is among the special category States and need special assistance from the Centre”, he added.
Expressing concern over the rising fiscal deficit, non-spending of Plan money and declining expenditure rate, Mr Baig said that capital component of the Plan was on decrease and FRBM Rules were being violated, adding “the claims of the Government that rules and regulations are being observed are hollow as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has exposed the financial mismanagement in Jammu and Kashmir during the present Government’s regime”.
“The figures vis-à-vis Plan size and expenditure during the past five years clearly indicate that this Government has not ensured 100% utilization of funds, which ultimately deprives people of the benefits of development”, he said while quoting the figures of State Plan and expenditure from 2009-10 to 2012-13 financial year.
He said that during its tenure PDP achieved more progress under the State Plan with less Central assistance but during the present Government’s rule the situation was totally reverse because of its failure to ensure proper utilization of the funds.
Pointing towards the claims of Mr Rather about Planning Commission of India, Principal Accountant General and Empowered Committee of Finance Ministers appreciating the financial management during the present Government’s regime, the former Deputy Chief Minister said, “you need not to get any appreciation certificate from Planning Commission or other forums. Actually the appreciation should come from this House, which represents 1.25 crore population of the State”.
Countering the claims of Mr Rather by quoting facts and figures from the Economic Surveys and Comptroller and Auditor General of India reports, Mr Baig said, “all over the world social sectors like health, education and drinking water are given priority but in Jammu and Kashmir these sectors paint dismal scenario thereby exposing the tall claims about financial management”, adding “the utilization of funds under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Externally Aided Projects also paints gloomy picture”.
Continuing to expose the Government, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that out of total 1211 decisions taken in the Cabinet-cum-District Development Board meetings during the present regime only 919 have been implemented. Similarly, out of 1970 decisions taken in DDB meetings only 1241 have been implemented despite the fact that all such decisions were directly related to development at grass root level.
Exposing the Government on power sector, the PDP MLA said that power purchase bill has increased from Rs 3761 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 4270 crore in 2013-14 with no significant increase in the revenue collection thereby indicating that this vital sector has failed to receive the due attention of the present Government. “On one side this Government had not supported our move for renegotiation of agreements on power projects with NHPC and on the other side it has failed to take any significant step in this direction”, he added.
Terming the announcement regarding creation of new administrative units as political gimmick, Mr Baig said, “the seriousness of the Government in this regard can be gauged from the fact that in the Budget for the next financial year no provision has been kept for the creation of infrastructure for the announced administrative units”.
Questioning the norms followed while recommending such a huge number of administrative units, he said, “though you may not disclose the norms to this House but you will have to explain the same to the Planning Commission of India if you come to power as Planning Commission will not release even a single penny without being convinced over this issue”.
“No doubt for you announcement of administrative units is a win-win situation but it is not beneficial for the people as thousands of crores of rupees would be required in order to give practical shape to these announcements”, he said, adding “you have tried to befool the people for political considerations otherwise we don’t see any seriousness in implementation of the announcement”.
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