BHOPAL : Launching a vitriolic attack on the government over the provisions in the Third Supplementary Budget in the Assembly on Thursday, the Congress said that it reflected financial mismanagement on the part of the government. Madhya Pradesh’s debt is mounting and it was a matter of deep concern. Growing debt was not a good sign. While on one hand farmers were committing suicides due to crops damage, the state’s finances were in the doldrums.
At present, Madhya Pradesh has a debt burden of Rs 1.60 lakh crore while it was only Rs 23,000 crore during the regime of Digvijay Singh. The Congress members claimed that the RBI and the Finance Commission had warned the state to keep its debt burden with limits.
Later, the Assembly cleared a supplementary budget of Rs 5889 crore.
Acting Leader of Opposition Bala Bachchan said, “There is provision of Rs 160 crore for pension for widows. The government should clarify how the number of widows had increased suddenly. It seems the government wants to spend the money for other purposes.”
The government was also criticised for making provision of Rs 90 lakh for purchasing flats in Delhi and Rs 2.5 crore for maintenance of Mumbai accommodation.
Bachchan said, “Allocation in supplementary budget for purchasing flats in Kidwai Nagar in Delhi and Rs 2.5 crore for Mumbai-based accommodation is extravagance.”
Bachhan said, “Rs 16 crore has been allocated for the CM discretionary fund. In previous supplementary budget, it was Rs 50 crore. CM distributed Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the Petlawad blast but only Rs 2 lakh was given to victims botched up eye surgeries in Barwani.”
Congress also pulled up the Government for making provision in supplementary budget for grant to farmers for buying tractors. Jitu Patwari said, “When farmers have not been distributed proper compensation and it is ridiculous that the government was making budgetary allocation for tractors.”
Finance Minister Jayant Mallaiya, in his reply said, “The government
has tabled supplementary budget to fund various schemes.”
