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| Rather takes parties on board as Finance Commission’s J&K itinerary begins June 30 | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 26: Ahead of thirteenth Finance Commission’s arrival in the summer capital on June 30, the Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today convened a meeting with all political parties to seek their suggestions and share government’s proposals.
Representatives of all political parties –ruling and opposition participated in the deliberations but the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party boycotted the meeting.
It may be mentioned here that the commission set up by the President of India under Article 280 of the constitution after every five years makes recommendations on the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between Centre and State and also the subsequent distribution amongst them.
The Finance Minister told representatives of different political parties that State is suffering from numerous natural handicaps like distance, topography, hostile climate and lack of infrastructure, power, communication, highways and telecommunication facilities. He said that the State’s own tax and non-tax revenue is not sufficient to meet our needs of committed expenditure, salaries, pensions, purchase of power and payment of interest on loans, adding that the central assistance is indispensable for meeting these requirements. It is the constitutional right of the state to receive revenues from the centre to meet this gap. But we have to jointly impress upon the commission about the nature and extent of such need.
The Minister said that huge resources are needed to ensure the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission Award as decided already. For promotion of most important sectors like handicrafts, Tourism, horticulture and Hydel Power, we deserve to be given extra support by the Commission so that about Rs. 2000 crores being spent annually for purchasing electricity can be saved for equitable regional development in the State.
He said that the State has suffered huge losses due to the Indus Water Treaty adding that the Commission needs to be jointly acquainted by all political parties about the pending issue of compensation to the State.
Rather said the fresh water bodies of the State in Kashmir, Jammu & Ladakh need to be preserved alongwith the forests. Their preservation is in national interest and therefore, the finance Commission should make a provision for cost of their maintenance. He added that strengthening of local bodies and panchayats is also of vital importance in ensuring democratic decentralization as also balanced regional and sub-regional growth in the state. The Commission can help us in making adequate provision for such local bodies.
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