Siddique slams NDA for self-congratulatory buzz over plan size

Patna, Feb 21 (PTI) Leader of Opposition Abdul BariSiddique today slammed the NDA for its self congratulatoryattitude over the state''s annual plan size of Rs. 24,000crores for 2011-12 approved by the Planning Commission andsaid that the increasing funds at the dispoal of the stategovernment was not a true reflection of its fiscal health.

"What is so extraordinary about the plan size of Rs.

24,000 crores sanctioned by the plan panel for Bihar for nextfiscal year?..... In percentage terms, it amounts to 20 percent increase over last year''s plan size which is less than 25per cent increase in the financial year 2010-11," he toldreporters here.

The allocation of the funds under the annual plan sizefor Bihar has been between 45 per cent to 15 per cent eversince 2002-03, Siddique said reeling out figures.

He criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and hisdeputy Sushil Kumar Modi for creating a buzz about the state''splan size as if they have achieved anything special for thestate.

The allocation of funds under the plan size to thestates was a routine and constitutional process which takesplace every year, the leader of Opposition said. (More) PTIKDK Cr