Akshay Azad
ET Report
jammu, Apr 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has made no difference for cash starved Jammu and Kashmir, as like its predecessor Congress-led government, it also has cut the Annual plan 2014-15, plunging the state into financial crisis.
Sources said that despite BJP being an ally in the coalition government in J&K, the state received blow in the form of cuts in Annual Plan, including Special Plan Assistance (SPA), Prime Minister Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
The sources said that few days ago, the J&K Finance department had forwarded a letter to Niti Ayoog, requesting release of full SPA and other components of Annual Plan 2014-15, including PMRP and CSS, which was Rs 11,900 crore as agreed by the Centre.
Under Annual Plan 2014-15, the SPA component was Rs. 2064 crore out of which the last installment was released by Union Finance Ministry in mid-April to the tune of Rs. 815 crore, totaling the SPA release to state as Rs. 1889 crore.
"BJP-PDP coalition government in the state was hopeful of release of full annual plan on the last day of financial year, but the amount to the tune of Rs. 174 crore was not released by Union Finance Ministry under SPA component," the sources said.
An official of Finance department, pleading anonymity informed Early Times that it was for the third consecutive term that Union government has not released the full annual plan, especially the SPA component.
"Whether it is Congress or BJP, it makes no difference in policies of Union government for our state. Earlier in the financial year 2013-14, UPA-led Union government had withheld Rs 300 crore of SPA component and several crores under SPA in financial year 2012-13",the official said, adding that on one hand Union government has been increasing the SPA component in the Annual Plan with each passing year, but J&K has been witnessing cuts in SPA component.
Sources further said that for the current financial year 2014-15, Union government had approved total plan 2014-15 for J&K to the tune of Rs. 11,900 crore including Rs. 7300 crore Annual Plan, Rs. 4000 crore for Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Rs. 600 crore under Prime Minister Reconstruction Programme (PMRP).
"Out of Rs. 600 crore under PMRP and Rs. 4000 crore only a little amount was released by Union government and it is still unknown how much amount is withheld under these two components", the sources said, adding that despite BJP being in the government in the state there was no liberal funding to J&K, which has been facing worst kind of financial crisis due to devastating floods and withholding of funds.
Principal Secretary to Finance Department, BB Vyas admitted that SPA component to the tune of several crore was not released by Union government and was lapsed. He said that he was in Srinagar and could only comment about the exact details about the amount lapsed with closure of financial year. |
