Cong ministers not happy with budget allocation

KEY portfolios held by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have managed to garner higher allocations as compared to those held by its alliance partner,Congress.

Written by Express News Service
Mumbai | Updated: April 16, 2014 05:24 PM IST

3 min read

KEY portfolios held by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have managed to garner higher allocations as compared to those held by its alliance partner,Congress. The plan size for 2013-14 announced by the Deputy CM,who also holds Finance Ministry,was Rs 46,938 crore. The Ministry of Finance admitted that NCP portfolios together account for approximately Rs 26,000 crore as compared to Congress Rs 19,000 crore.

Among the ministers who are not pleased with the allocations is agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (Congress). His department,which was expecting an allocation of Rs 2,500 crore,got Rs 1,475 crore.

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The Ministry of Industries and Mining,held bt Narayan Rane,was allocated Rs 400 crore. The ministry,again,was expecting higher allocation. According to a senior Congress minister,The financial constraints in the backdrop of drought notwithstanding,we were expecting a more balanced budget with emphasis on areas like agriculture and employment guarantee schemes.

Minister for Forests Patangrao Kadam openly expressed displeasure over the allocations while the Finance Minister was reading the budget.

However,CM Prithviraj Chavan said,In the given situation,the Finance Minister has done a good job.

The Finance Minister has indicated that if possible,a little correction cannot be ruled out in key areas but the overall allocations will not be altered.

Sources in the finance department said,The difference of Rs 7,000 crore is essentially on account of water resources and water supply and sanitation,which get higher allocations compared to other departments.

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The sources said that another key sector is the Ministry of Power,which is held by the NCP. The ministry has been allocated Rs 3,300 crore,which again is higher compared to some important portfolios held by Congress.

Chavan has indicated that for long term irrigation projects,which need to be undertaken on a priority,the state government will have to seek financial aid from the Centre. According to Congress ministers,the argument that they they have to understand the constraints cannot extend to their departments alone,as they also have to justify the projects.

Interestingly,some NCP ministers have also voiced discontent. They say are wondering how to fast-track mega projects. The PWD Ministry,held by NCP,had sought Rs 4,200 crore but was given Rs 3,823 crore.