TRS Govt lacks clarity on budget: Shabbir Ali

Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has accused the TRS Government of being high on promises, but low on performance.

           

Speaking on the Appropriation Bill 2016-17 in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali slammed the State Government for not incorporating any of the suggestions made by the opposition parties during the discussions on budget in the House, in the Appropriation Bill. He reiterated that like  the previous two years, the budget of Rs. 1.30 lakh crore would prove to be a  damp squib. He said that the government appears to be in a phobia of presenting over Rs. 1 lakh crore budget despite knowing the fact that they were unrealistic. He said only Rs. 62,306 Crore out of Rs. 100,637 Cr budget were spent in 2014-15. Similarly, the budget of Rs. 115,689 Cr for 2015-16 was revised to Rs. 100,062 Crore and government could not spend even 80% of the amount. Likewise, Rs. 1.30 lakh Cr budget too would prove to be unrealistic.

           

Shabbir Ali said that there was no clarity on how the State Government proposes to raise loans for Double Bed Room houses, Mission Bhagaritha and power projects.  Furnishing details, he expressed doubts over HUDCO funding the entire 2-BHK Housing scheme.

           

Speaking about Energy sector, Shabbir Ali accused the TRS Government of not pursuing 4,000 MW NTPC project sanctioned for Telangana under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Describing agriculture as the most neglected sector during TRS regime, he asked the State Government to clear entire dues of crop loan waiver scheme this year.

           

Shabbir Ali alleged that the TRS Government was not serious on the welfare of SCs, STs, BCs and Minorities.     Speaking about minority welfare, he said as against the allocation of Rs. 1100 Crore in the budget for 2015-16, about Rs. 610 crore were released while only Rs. 410 Crore were actually spent

He said that education sector was worst hit due to utter neglect of TRS Government during the last 22 months. The Congress leader also slammed the Central Government for drastically reducing funds for Minority Welfare. (NSS)