Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: On third and last day of the general discussion on Budget 2018-19 in the Legislative Assembly, the opposition MLAs sought to grill the Government by pointing out shortcomings in budget proposals while ruling coalition Members highlighted the initiatives taken for improvement in various sectors as well as welfare of masses.
Javid Ahmad Rana called for political and diplomatic resolution for restoring long term peace and normalcy in the State. Terming peace paramount for economic development, he urged the Government to take steps to create a feasible atmosphere for dialogue in the Valley.
He also urged the State Government to create a comprehensive plan for uplift of tribal communities, besides a plan for permanent settlement of nomadic population living in the State.
Congress MLA Usman Majid, while participating in general discussion on Budget 2018-19, termed the budget proposals as jugglery of words, which has nothing substantial for the common masses.
He sought to know about proposals for improving performance of State Corporations, where around two dozen ruling party workers have been installed as Vice-Chairpersons thus putting additional burden on these loss making bodies.
Alleging that GST and demonetization severely dented economy of the State, the Congress MLA also grilled the Government for zero progress on its much talked about agenda of taking J&K based Power Projects back from the Centre. Likewise, he added, the Government has failed to fulfill all its promises made earlier.
BJP MLA Neelam Langeh strongly defended the demonetization and GST claiming that both the steps have far reaching consequences for good health of the economy. He lauded the Chief Minister Outreach Programme and said that the gesture has greatly helped people in remote areas, who got an opportunity to highlight their grievances before the CM besides getting their issues addressed on the spot.
Neelam Langeh demanded that the upper age limit of all candidates for Government recruitment should be enhanced from 37 to 40 years.
Bakar Hussain Rizvi, while participating in the discussion on budget, drew attention towards various issues of Kargil, particularly, Zanskar Assembly constituency and sought redressal of the same. He stressed that special attention should be given to the remote areas for ensuring inclusive development of the entire State.
The MLA also appreciated the Government decision of implementing 7th Pay Commission and regularization of daily rated workers.
Mohd Khalil Band of PDP termed the budget proposals as historic and said that the same would transform economy of the State to great extent besides giving much relief to the common masses.
Listing the Government initiatives for regularization of daily rated workers, enhancement in wages of skilled and unskilled workers, implementation of 7th Pay Commission etc, the PDP MLA said that the Finance Minister Hasib Drabu has done a commendable job by addressing to all the sections and sectors. He stressed that the Members should rise above the party politics while analyzing the budget proposals.
Participating in the debate MLA Kangan, Mian Altaf wanted to know what advantages State got after implementation of GST. He termed the statement of Finance Minister wrong that PHE schemes were given funds saying that funds have not been released to the schemes of the Department. Likewise many schemes in Irrigation are lying defunct for last 10 years, he added.
He alleged that nothing was said about PHE in budget and Government has weakened the Social Welfare Department (SWD) as 200 cases of the deserving people are pending in Ganderbal district alone. He also took the Government to task for not taking up any new power project in hand during last three years nor completing any old project or taking up the construction of any Highway in hand. The all weather Zojila tunnel to connect Ladakh region with rest of country has been announced by former Prime Minister ,Dr Manmohan Singh and the present Government was unnecessary taking credit. Moreover, no medical institute has been established in the State by the present Government, he added.
Showing concern over the growing unemployment in the State, he said it is a fact that the Government can’t provide jobs to every one but it can refer the vacant posts in various departments to SSRB and demanded that J&K Financial Corporation be made functional.
BJP’s Shakti Parihar demanded starting of work on Rattle Power Project in Kishtwar. He said work on the project was closed during previous Government rule after the then local MLA launched an agitation due to which the company stopped the work.
Parihar also demanded that work on Keri Project be started and added that if Kashmir has the lot of potential for tourism the Jammu region has also a great potential of generating the hydro-electricity.
He strongly refuted the claims that under Bad Pocket the discrimination is being done among the Assembly segments as alleged by Opposition MLA. He said an Opposition MLA the constituencies represented by BJP MLAs get more funds. While presenting data, he said Inderwal Assembly Segment represented by Opposition MLA got Rs 58 lakh under bad pocket while the Doda got only Rs 40 lakh.
NC’s Majid Larni said that unless proper policy is not established on Kashmir the situation will remain same. The Autonomy Resolution passed by the State Legislature be implemented and it is the only solution to the issue otherwise all other steps taken by the Government will prove futile, he added.
He said the present situation is the result of arrest of former Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in 1953.
Abdul Rahim Rather of PDP while welcoming the various steps taken in the budget for the people of the State especially the working class said the granting of Allowance, regularization of daily wagers, insurance scheme and implementation of Pay Commission are bold decisions of the Government.
He demanded that the Walnut Processing Plant established in his Kokernag Constituency which is defunct be put back on rails and establishment of Industrial Estate in his Constituency. Besides, impetus be given to Kokernag Fish Farm and the tourism be given further boost and Floriculture be also provided attention.
He stressed that steps be taken to improve situation in the State for its overall development.
Daleep Parihar, Shamima Firdous, Deldan Namgyal, Chowdhary Qamar Hussain and Noor Mohd Sheikh also participated in the discussion.
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