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| Drabu tears into opposition for criticizing budget | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 2: Finance Minister Dr. Haseeb Drabu today dismissed the contention of opposition members that some of the important sectors of the state economy have been left out of the budget announced by him on May 30.
Winding up the discussion on budget in Assembly, Drabu said that Rs. 613 crores have been earmarked for agriculture in the present financial year with the same being Rs. 327 crores in the previous financial year. He claimed that the rural landscape would be changed in the state over the next three years. "For the horticulture sector we have kept a provision of Rs. 200 crores while as it was Rs. 126 crores in the previous financial year. For the Irrigation and Flood Control an amount of Rs. 600 crores has been kept with the same being Rs. 400 crores during 2015-16. In the power sector a provision of Rs. 1102 crores has been kept with the same being Rs. 381 crores," said the finance minister. Drabu acceded to the demand of rollback in tax rate in some of the items and said that items like readymade garments, hosiery and cell phones would be kept under the provision of 5 percent tax and not 14.5 percent as proposed by him. He said that tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) would continue to be 20 percent and the same would be 25 percent for the remaining allied activities. He dismissed the contention that increase in tax on ATF would give a setback to the tourism industry in the state."I have inherited a system that has decimated the entire economy of the state and it is not possible to change the system overnight. Give me some time I will make a difference in the prevailing system. My focus is to bring about accountability and transparency in the system and for this I need cooperation of the same including the legislators," said the finance minister. Drabu while responding to demand for hike in salaries and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) made by different legislators said that some decision would be taken on the same and the members would be informed by the end of the budget session. He urged the legislators not to create a situation under which allocation for CDF would be done under some plan. He said that he would not hike the salaries and CDF in such a way it becomes a burden on the state ex-chequer.
"Many of the legislators carried out a scathing attack on me for failing to table the Economic Survey in the house. I would like to put it on record that the tabling of Economic Survey was started by Peoples Democratic Party when Tariq Hameed Qarra and Muzaffar Hussain Beigh were the finance ministers of the state. We had decided to table the Economic Survey in August this year but same may not happen since the budget session is on these days with the same being slated in January this year," said the finance minister.Drabu said that the growth rate for the state during 2016-17 is expected to be 13.9 percent with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate being 10 percent for the same period. He accused the erstwhile National Conference and Congress government of exploiting youth in the name of employment and said thousands of youth were appointed on menial jobs with guidelines being kept at bay. "The former chief minister has on record said that he would not hesitate to go with a begging bowl to New Delhi. This shows the mindset of the people who have been ruling this state and I want to change the same. Time will come when this would happen, but by that time be patient and allow me to work. You people too should chip in and do your bit as well so that we move an efficient accountable transparent system," said the finance minister.
Drabu said that since there are only 26 hot mix plants in the state it would not be possible that all the roads would be macadamized in record time. He said that he would not allow wasteful expenditure ,adding that money would be spent in right direction. He said that he would legislators are hold accountable even for a cup of tea.
"It is my commitment to bring about power reforms in the state and as a result of the same the affluent class of people would not receive power subsidy. I would give subsidy to the people belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category in case they use 30 units of power in a month and are living in a metered area. Given the fact that we have embarked upon power reform process the transmission and distribution losses would come to 20 percent in the next three years from existing 59 percent," said the finance minister.Drabu said that the handicraft industry except walnut has already been keep out of the tax purview and there is no need to create 'fusses over the same. He said the Dhaba owners in the state are not paying any tax on sales and that the same would continue as well. He said the waiver of penalty for traders and transporters is a great step and it would go a long way in helping out these people. |
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