Khandu stresses on augmenting revenue to tide financial crisis

Itanagar, Sept 19 (UNI) Stressing the need to exploit the state's revenue resources to surplus the annual budgetary allocation, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu has called for augmenting it to meet the state's financial crisis.

Addressing the first State Planning Board (SPB) meeting of his government to discuss the Annual Operating Plan 2007-08 here yesterday, Mr Khandu informed that the approved plan outlay for the current fiscal was Rs 1320 crore, but as per finance department information, the actual plan was Rs 1225.79 and the shortfall was due to deterioration of resources, official sources informed here today.

'' We have resources but cannot exploit it. The departments have to work out on it in order to increase our state resources,'' the chief minister advocated. There should be no fund diversion, especially of the committed expenditure such as stipend in education department and allocation in health sectors, the chief minister said adding, priority should be given to the ongoing projects and projects in border areas.

Stressing on inter departmental readjustment of post as means to redress the shortfall, he cautioned against creation of post and appointments without the knowledge of the planning department.

Taking strong note of the fact that large chunk fund of the annual plan goes on salaries, the chief minister called for immediate submission of photo identity details of each government employee by the concerned departments to planning department before releasing of fund.

Disclosing that the state has liability of more than Rs. 130 crore as state share accumulated in the last four years, the chief minister directed that all the schemes submitted to the Centre should be enrouted through planning department, and added that the projects which required 50:50 funding should be discourage and avoided.

While stressing on timely implementation of projects, the chief minister advocated for a deadline by November this year for submission of schemes by various departments, which would help in disbursing 25 per cent of the required fund starting from December, to complete the project and disbursement of fund by March.

Referring to the pending projects which would involve expenditure amounting to Rs. 2200 crores, Mr. Khandu assured to approach UPA chairperson, Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission for a one time grant to complete these projects.

Finance Minister Kalikho Pul, Water Resources Department minister Tako Dabi, public health engineering department (PHED) minister Lombo Tayeng, Education Minister Tatar Kipa, Health&family welfare minister C.C. Singpho were among others who spoke on the meeting, sources added.

UNI