GUWAHATI, Oct 19 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today claimed that the financial condition of the State is quite stable and not grim as made out by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Chief Minister said in a statement here today that the financial condition of the State is quite stable and that the State Government has been regularly paying salaries to its employees, and that too on time, besides paying the dearness allowance at par with Central Government employees. �The financial condition is quite stable and not grim as painted by the BJP,� he said.
Moreover, the Chief Minister stated that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre has squeezed the flow of funds to Assam by changing the funding pattern and suspending the North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIP) and withdrawing the special category status of Assam.
He further said that the State has stabilised the financial condition through a slew of fiscal discipline and management measures. NABARD projects worth Rs 750 crore have been sanctioned this year and the State has bagged externally-aided projects worth Rs 300 crore. He added that the State Government would avail whopping loans from BRICS New Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank soon.
Besides, he said the State has taken up a big plan for developing the inland water transport infrastructure worth Rs 900 crore.
He informed that the State Finance Department would soon release Rs 300 crore to the Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies.
He said though the Central Government has stopped flow of funds to the Zila Parishad, Anchalik Parishad, Autonomous Councils and the Sixth Schedule Areas, the State Government has been providing funds to these bodies out of its own resources.
The Chief Minister said, though at the directive of the Accountant General of Assam, revenue and civil deposits have been taken back, provision has been made for the departments to place supplementary budgets from time to time so that the process of development is not affected. �The Finance Department has made the flow of funds to the departments concerned smooth and hassle-free,� he added.
He also claimed that the guidelines against schemes announced in the current Budget to the tune of Rs 1000 crore have been formulated and the selection process of beneficiaries is under way.
He said retention process has been simplified and to ensure transparency, e-tendering has been introduced.
