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| Districts to be made self-sufficient units: Karra | | ‘Reforms initiated to make budget capital-oriented’ | | Jammu, February, 05
“ Concept of best planning is to ensure maximum benefits to the people within minimum resources”, said Minister for Finance, Planning, Law & Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Tariq Hameed Karra while replying discussion on the grants for the departments under his charge in Legislative Assembly today. He said former Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in the centre and late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir were pioneers for projecting and piloting this concept to address the socio-economic and development needs at grass roots.
He said while accommodating all sectors of development and providing funds to cater to the needs of every area, a huge exercise is required and when there is dependence for availability of resources, sharing of funds gets more difficult. He said that despite all difficulties and uphill tasks on this count, state government has formulated a comprehensive plan to reach almost every area and provide for growth and development of all sectors.
He said the funding situation in a state like Jammu and Kashmir where revenue expenditure has gone upto Rs. 6000 crores annually at present, perspective planning for making adequate funds available for capital expenditure requires added concern. He said it is for this fact monitoring of physical and fiscal activities at ground level is imperative, as such, he added the monitoring cell in the planning department is being strengthened.
Giving details of other reforms in this regard, he said transfer of expenditure of Rs. 459 crores from plan to non-plan during 2006-07 is yet another step in this direction. He said this trend would continue and capital-oriented budget provisions would be enhanced. He said in order to check hiccups in the development process, the special authority of Chief Minister to grant sanction to the works upto rupees one crore has been enhanced to Rs. 5 crore. He said Additional District Development Commissioners have also been posted in every district and budget session preponed to provide ample working season for completion in works in snow bound, hilly areas and in the valley. He said this would help to avoid the practice of spilling over schemes, which create price escalation and tells upon availability of funds.
He said steps have also been taken to achieve annual GSDP of 8 % for the state and make employment generation as per the growth of GSDP laying focus on health, education, road connectivity and power sectors simultaneously. He said enhancement of district plan from 30% to 40% this year and its continuation for the next year is another measure to achieve maximum on the ground.
Referring to the new thrust being given to district plan, Mr. Karra said that the goal set by the government in this regard is to make a district self-sufficient unit within given resources making economy self-sustainable and people-oriented. He said presently guidelines issued in 1993 with regard to holding of district board meetings and decision making there are in vogue which need to be taken a fresh view to make the district boards more public-oriented.
On the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, the Minister said 500 micro hydel projects have so far been constructed out of 1000 proposed. He said out of Rs. 24000 crore PM’s reconstruction plan, Rs. 3316 crore in the plan have come under the state sector while as Rs.14864 crore have been earmarked to central sector to be executed through central government agencies like BRO, NHPC etc and Rs. 6646 crore have been earmarked in the central sector for the projects to be executed by the state government agencies. He said unlike other states, roping in of international funding in the state has not become possible for want of necessary infrastructure in this regard adding that by establishment of ERA harnessing of this institutional funding is also hoped in a big way.
Welcoming the suggestions made by members during the marathon discussion, Mr. Karra expressed resolve of the state government for early completion of Mughal Road. He said the Supreme Court has entrusted wild life board to prepare a report and the government is waiting for the report to be filed.
Karra said that the legislative complex at Srinagar would be constructed at the designated place and there was no intentional motive behind stopping the work at the site. He said the land needed for the expansion for the complex is under litigation and the government is working out an outside the court settlement adding that as and when the settlement is reached construction work on the complex would be started.
The Minister said enhancement of pensions of ex-legislators and perks to former Speakers on case to case basis is under consideration of the government |
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