*Rs 890 cr for State under SIIS, SRE
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 27: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that Jammu and Kashmir instead of being bone of contention between India and Pakistan should serve as a bridge between the two countries and called for initiation of dialogue process internally with diverse political opinion in inclusive manner along with external dialogue process to solve the Kashmir problem.
In his speech circulated at 57th National Development Council (NDC) meeting by a high level Jammu and Kashmir delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather for finalisation of 12th Five Year Annual Plan of Jammu and Kashmir along with other States, Omar projected 8 per cent growth for the State in 12th Five Year Plan despite adverse conditions on militancy and law and order front.
Hailing Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for liberal funding to the State, he hoped that the State would continue to get their support for return of normalcy in the State.
As exclusively reported by the Excelsior, Jammu and Kashmir had projected Rs 68,000 crore funding during 12th Five Year Plan, which has started from current financial year of 2012-13. However, the Union Government has approved Rs 44,000 crore for the State.
During 11th Five year Plan, the State has been awarded Rs 28,000 crore. There has been an increase of Rs 16,000 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan for the State but it was less by Rs 24,000 crore projection made by the State.
In addition, J&K would get Rs 890 cr for special industry initiative scheme, security Related Expenditure (SRE) and for relief and rehabilitation schemes for Jammu and Kashmir from Union Home Ministry’s quota of Rs 52,839 crore allocation.
The State has been assured liberal funding in the Centrally Sponsored Schemes identified by it, official sources said, adding that the State has, on its party, assured the Central Government of reducing fiscal deficit by ensuring fiscal discipline.
The State, which lagged behind 8 per cent growth rate during 11th Five Year Plan by achieving the target of 6.2 per cent, has also promised to address the issue to achieve 8 per cent growth rate in 12th Five Year Plan. Even at the national level, the country has been lagging behind the growth rate, which stood at 7.9 per cent.
The Chief Minister sought return of Dul Hasti and Salal hydro-electric power projects from National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) to the State Government and enhancement of power share from the power projects in the State from 12 per cent to 25 per cent to compensate J&K for huge power losses due to topographical and other adverse conditions.
Admitting that huge power losses to the State remained a matter of concern for the Government, he said the State should also be compensated for Indus Water Treaty by handing over Dul Hasti and Salal power projects.
The speech of Omar Abdullah, who is abroad, was circulated at NDC meeting by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and read by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather. The official delegation of the State comprised Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning, BR Sharma and Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, RK Goyal.
The NDC meeting held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi was chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and attended by all Cabinet Minister including Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde besides Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Asserting that India and Pakistan were coming closer to each other, Omar hailed the Prime Minister for his initiatives on this front and said: “Jammu and Kashmir instead of being the bone of contention, can become a bridge of friendship between the two nations. Economic development of the two countries can get a boost if scare resources are invested in programmes of development and poverty alleviation. All steps were required to be taken to pursue external dialogue process and initiating internal dialogue with diverse political opinion’’.
Omar also sought separate funding for police establishment as the cops were performing their job for national security, increase in LPG cylinders cap for the State from present 6 per year to 12, Rs 30,000 crore for City Mobility Plans, extension in Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP) for taking up new projects in Phase-II and liberal funding for Panchayats.
Asserting that the State has successfully conducted Panchayat elections last year after nearly four decades, Mr Abdullah said it would shortly hold elections to Block Development Councils (BDCs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
He listed a number of measures the State Government has taken to curb corruption and provide speedy services to the people including constitution of State Information Commission, re-constitution of State Accountability Commission (SAC), introduction of Public Services Guarantee Act etc. The establishment of first ever State Vigilance Commission (SVC) was also in the pipeline, he added.
He assured that the State would also contain fiscal discipline, reduce fiscal and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) losses, sharpen institutional capacities, ensure completion of projects in time bound manner and address issues in utility sectors.
Asserting that security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir had considerably improved leading to arrival of 1.01 crore tourists to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, 13.14 lakh tourists to Kashmir valley, 6.21 lakh Amarnath yatris to Kashmir and 1.79 lakh tourists to the Valley this year, Omar focus of the State Government has now shifted to ensuring faster, balanced and inclusive growth in the State.
“This has created the challenge of enhanced people’s expectations, which need to be met,” he added.
The Chief Minister said it was imperative to dedicate bulk of resources in the State to priority sectors besides promoting private and public investment. “To make it inclusive, we need to enhance the outlays under special component plans like JNNURM, NRHM, NSAP, SSA, RMSA etc’’, he added.
He said while finalizing the 12th Five Year Plan documents, the Centre should replace tied Special Plan Assistance (SPA) with Untied Special Central Assistance (SCA) adding that releases of funds should be made upfront for the States like J&K where the working season is very brief or a system of proportionate allocation be make so that there is no liquidity mismatch in the State.
Omar sought grants to the tune of Rs. 800 crore for completing 1160 approved PMGSY schemes and liberal Central funding for devolution of the resources to the Panchayats including payment of honorarium to the Panchs and Sarpanchs. He also sought Central assistance for taking up comprehensive City Mobility Plan with an investment of over Rs 30,000 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan. He said, in case of special category States, the Pattern of financing for all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes should conform to the 90:10 pattern.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel