Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 11: Commenting on the plan size for Jammu and Kashmir which was finalized following the meeting between the State Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, BJP National Executive Member and State chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that there ought to be a mechanism in place to account for the utilization by the State Government of this liberal financial assistance flowing in to the State from the Center every year.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the common people are often unable to read between the lines that although the approved plan size per se for Jammu and Kashmir is Rs 7,300 crore for 2013-14,there is in addition for example an amount of Rs 3,500 crore expected to flow from the Centre to the border state through various Centrally-sponsored schemes, Rs 710 crore available from the Central plan for Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana projects and Rs 600 crore that would be considered for PMRP (State sector) ventures. Hence, overall, the total plan assistance from the Centre to the State is expected to be abouts 12,110 crore during the current fiscal,he explained.
According to Dr Jitendra Singh, the N C led coalition Government owes it to the people of the State to explain as to where this huge amount obtained from Government of India is going every year even as the current inflation rate in J&K stands at 8.64 % which is higher than All India rate of 8.33 %.What is more, during the first seven months 2012-2013,J&K recorded an inflation of 11.63 % compared to All India figure of 9.9 % for the same period, he elaborated.
Dr Jitendra Singh also pointed out that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth rate of the State during 11th Five Year Plan was only 6%, which is lower than the national average of 8%.
Dr Jitendra Singh said there is a popular perception that Central funds are being callously swindled or misused by the powers-that-be on the pretext of militancy. He demanded the government must come out with precise details to prove its claim that these huge Central funds are being allocated equitably among the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
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