TRS Govt lacks clarity on budget: Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, March 30 (INN): 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 Appropriation Bill 2016-17 in Legislative Council on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali slammed the State Government for not incorporating any of the suggestions in the Appropriation Bill made by the opposition parties during the discussions on budget in the House. He reiterated that the like previous two years, the budget of Rs. 1.30 lakh crore would prove to be 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. He said besides raising direct loans, the government is proposing to borrow about Rs. 40,000 Crore for Mission Bhagiratha and nearly Rs. 13,500 Crore for 2BHK Housing through different corporations. 'How will those corporations repay the interest and loans?' he asked.

Furnishing details, he expressed doubts over HUDCO funding the entire 2BHK 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. He also opposed the proposed hike in power tariff to the tune of Rs. 2,000 Crore and imposition of Fuel Surcharge Adjustments of Rs. 3,000 Cr on consumers. He said that the TRS Govt is promising to supply power to farm sector for 9 hours. While welcoming the decision, he said that no provision has been made to give subsidy for additional two hours.

Describing agriculture as the most neglected sector during TRS regime, Shabbir Ali asked the State Government to clear entire dues of crop loan waiver scheme this year. He said it was not justified to keep over 35 lakh farmers in debt trap while increasing the spending in other sectors.
He alleged that the TRS Government was not serious on the welfare of SCs, STs, BCs and Minorities. He said these communities were being pleased through allocation of huge amounts in the budget. However, the government was not showing any seriousness in spending the allocated budget while allowing a majority of funds to lapse.