Punjab CPI expresses concern at fiscal health of state

Chandigarh, Mar 7 (UNI) The Punjab CPI has expressed serious concern over the fiscal situation in the state as well as the industry, agriculture and trade which was in dire straits and has threatened to launch a struggle to 'awaken' the SAD-BJP government.

The party took stock of the economic and political scenario in the state at its 20th State Conference which concluded at Tarn Taran on March two.

According to a report by the state CPI Council the state government instead of finding solutions to urgent problems are counterposing problems of their respective classes, vote banks and vested groups. One year SAD-BJP rule has been a period of utter failure in meeting the challenges before the state, the report stated.

The coalition was indulging in the blame game and throwing responsibility on the Central Government for all the ills afflicting the state, the report released to the media here today by state CPI secretary Bhupinder Samber and National Executive member of the party, Dr Joginder Dayal stated.

The state government cannot cover up its inability to check erosion of taxes amounting to about Rs 3000 crore, huge electricity pilferage causing loss of upto Rs 2000 crore and recovery of debt from politicians and businessmen, the report said. The failure to curb unproductive, wasteful and luxurious expenditure of ruling politicians and top bureaucrats amounting to several hundred crores is a clear case of fiscal mismanagement.

Even the World Bank in its study of Punjab pointed out that a small state like Punjab had s big paraphernalia of DGPs, ADGPs, IGs, and SPs while in the early 1980's there was only one IGP, the report pointed out.

A mere 70 per cent of state's annual plan could be implemented and the state was going down in aducational and health services, the report claimed. Neighboring states like Haryana and HP have left Punjab far behind.

Not only that is the state highly indebted, its farmers are worst hit and top the country in indebtedness, according to the report.

Punjab which once topped the country in human development indices is now left far behind by state like Maharashtra and Kerala.

MORE UNI HS MMS1618