Shimla, Mar 8
Jai Ram Thakur Government would leave the state under a whooping debt of Rs 85000 Crore if it keeps on lending without prudence. Initiating discussion on state budget, Opposition leader Mukesh Agnihotri said that government did not show the real picture of state borrowing in the budget speech.
Nowhere in the budget speech of chief minister figured about the state of borrowing however accumulated debt of state would increased to Rs 61560 Cr and with this budget the state debt would go up to Rs 70000 Cr, alleged the opposition leader. He would become the first chief minister who has taken total lending of Rs 45000 crores, stated Agnihotri. The budget lacks resource mobilization however under pretext of Covid-19 more borrowing is being done to run the affairs.
He said that besides, even the Chief Minister budget speech nowhere mentioned about farmers and it also did not state if the government would provide Minimum sports price (MSP). The budget also not mention the apple growers whereas it should have discussed the same.
Opposition leader also pointed out that budget speech supports recruitment through backdoor channels. Cautioning the govt Agnihotri said that without following the recruitment rules School Management Committee (SMC) teachers are being hired relentlessly. The Chief Minister should have known that Om Prakash Chautala is languishing in jail for following a similar policy of recruitment.
Agnihotri said that the Chief Minister’s dream project of building the New green field airport could not move an inch ahead. No rail line or airport was coming up in the state moreover the hospitality industry is also squeezing every passing day, he added. Instead of promoting HPTDC the Government is deputing the corporation to handle departmental canteens.
He said that the Punjab government today declared the implementation of pay commission. The state government did not make any provisions in the budget to follow the Punjab pattern despite that it had assured to give pay commission to employees of the state.
The discussion on the budget continues and last till Mar 12. Six other members also spoke on the budget discussion on Monday.
