J&K is likely to bear financial crunch this time. It is because of delay in the Centre according sanction to annual plans for States. Actually the previous Government had taken vote on account as it was not able to present the full annual budget to the Parliament for the financial year 2014-15. Centre argues that annual plans for the States would be sanctioned only after the union budget is passed by the Parliament. And that will not be before the end of July or first week of August. The State treasuries cannot sustain payments for more than three or four days. The problem with the Government is that in view of forthcoming Assembly elections in November-December the EC will impose code of conduct around September. This makes things difficult for the State. But we hope that the Centre will take into consideration the circumstances created by delayed union budget for the states that are in the process of assembly elections within months from now including J&K State. The Centre is also seized with the question of constituting of Planning Commission which has been the focal agency of fixing the annual plans of States and according sanction to these. Will that job be done by the Finance Ministry or will the Planning Commission take new shape? This also adds to the concerns of the State Government as far as release of funds is concerned. Obviously, District Development Boards cannot meet to discuss the issues of planning and development in absence of solid assurance of the quantum of annual plan going to be sanctioned for the State. In any case, we are hopeful that the Union Finance Ministry will take into account the difficulties faced by the State owing to delay in according sanction to annual plan.
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