Gujarat Govt to review annual plan

He said the vote on account necessitated owing to a paucity of time in drafting a regular budget as a result of the recently concluded election to the state assembly.

The finance minister said the government would prepare and present a modified budget before the end of July this year.

Vala also presented in the state Assembly the supplementary demands for 1997-98, amounting to Rs 2288.15 crore.

Vala said the increase in the supplementary demands was mainly due to increase in agricultural subsidy claim of Gujarat Electricity Board, revision of pay on account of Fifth Pay Commission and expenditure for elections. He said there was also burden dueto expenditure on creation of new districts and talukas.

Later talking to reporters, Vala said the new government was proposing to revise the annual plan for 1998-99 "in order to fully translate our commitment to the people of the state" and a final shape would be given after discussions with the Planning Commission.

He said the government would create a "village security force" to provide security to the villagers and a large number of youths would get jobs with honorariums.

A scheme of "gram mitra" had been proposed to be introduced in which youth would be motivated to work as liaison between rural people and all government agencies, he added.

"All promises, given in our party’s election manifesto, would be duly incorporated in the modified budget by framing up appropriate schemes and financial planning," Vala said.

Token provisions have been proposed in the budget for schemes to provide wheat and rice at subsidised rates, concessional tariff for domestic power consumers who use below 75 units,free bicycles to tribal boys in secondary schools and free travel in state transport buses for unemployed youths to attend job interviews.

Vala said the detailed and modified budget would be presented in next session of the House.

"The blue-print prepared by our government for the development of the poor and backward class would be followed scrupulously," he said.

Under the new industrial policy, the government would give thrust to "swadeshi" and develop new townships and industrial parks to alleviate pressure on urbanisation, and accelerate employment generation. A comprehensive incentive policy would also be announced, he said.

The government would also make the administration more accountable and corruption free, he said.

The state finance minister said the government was committed to launch a most determined attempt to overcome all hurdles that were blocking the Narmada dam work.

The government was pursuing vigorously the matter pending before the supreme court and as soon as the stay wasvacated, it would resume construction work, marshall adequate resources and make all arrangements for completion of the project.

He said the government would take up strongly with the Centre the much neglected issues like enhancing royalty on crude oil, natural gas and lignite.