Weak side of State presented to PC to get more allocation: Patil

Mumbai, Mar 8: Maharashtra Finance Minister Jayant Patil said he had deliberately presented the weaker side of the state to the Planning Commission so as to get more fund allocation.

Speaking at a 'meet the press' programme organised by Mantralaya Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh yesterday (Mar 7, 2006), Mr Patil, while replying to a query relating to the Planning Commission's adverse observations about Maharashtra, said, ''I apprised the Commission about the problems of malnutrition and farmers' suicide in the State.'' ''When you go to ask for money, it is better to go wearing torn clothes,'' he remarked.

Mr Patil said he had urged the Commission for more funds allocation to Mumbai and Maharashtra since the State was generating the maximum revenue.

He said that due to implementation of Value Added Tax, the State had lost Rs 1100 crore in revenue, but added that the Centre was compensating for the loss.

He said no alternative to Octroi has yet been found and Mumbai alone earns a revenue of Rs 2600 crore through octroi. If the duty is abolished, it would cause a huge revenue crunch, he said.

When asked to comment on estranged Shiv Sena leader and Revenue Minister Narayan Rane's statement that the alliance government took loans as that was the need of hour, Mr Patil said he would not be able to comment on Mr Rane's statement.

He however maintained that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, during their tenure, had taken huge loans which had left the State heavily indebted. The situation has now improved and the total debt stands at Rs 115,000 crore, he said.

Mr Patil admitted that power situation has become grim since there was no additional power generation till 2001 and the government had banked on Enron's 2100 MW power. Several new power projects are on the anvil which will resolve the shortage, he added.

UNI