JAMMU : Opposition People’s Democratic Party today criticised the State budget terming it “directionless and full of discrepancies.”
“The budget presented by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather is directionless and full of discrepancies. We caution the state government against painting a false and rosy picture of the prevailing economic mess in the State”, former Finance Minister and PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said while initiating the debate on the state budget in the Assembly.
Comparing the budget speech of the Finance Minister and the Economic Survey Report (ESR) 2012-13 tabled by the Government on the floor of the Assembly, Baig alleged, “If we look at the ERS and the budget speech, figures are totally contradictory as social sector and infrastructure are in poor condition.”
Quoting the ERS, he pointed out that in comparison with neighbouring eight states, the per capita income of State is woefully poor.
On this indicator, the State occupies the second last position among the northern states and UTs, he added.
Contesting the Finance Minister’s claims that fiscal deficit was reducing in the State, quoting the ERS, Baig said that the fiscal deficit has increased from Rs 1,930 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 2,833 crore during 2011-12.
Accusing Rather of deliberately hiding figures of the estimated fiscal deficit during the current financial year, he further observed that the Accumulated Fiscal Deficit has been increasing with every passing year.
In an obvious reference towards Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who also holds the power portfolio, he said that the Government has not been able to bring reforms in the sector.
“The Government’s failure to improve collection of dues and reduction in Transmission and Distribution losses have not been addressed in the Budget and there are no steps of improvement in this sector,” Baig said, adding, that the Government has failed to improve energy management efficiency. (AGENCIES)
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