Vidarbha — Minister blocks talks on regional imbalance

“In view of the protest lodged by Deshmukh, the discussion on regional imbalance was postponed. Now, it has been decided that SPB will hold discussion with Deshmukh on removal of backlog and then submit a fresh report to the government,” a senior Congress Minister said.

The Congress Minister said, based on the findings of the Indicators and Backlog Committee, it was decided that at least 40 per cent of the budgetary provision will be officially earmarked for the removal of regional imbalance, while the State Planning Board has recommended that 12 per cent of the budgetary provision should be utilised for the purpose.

“Deshmukh’s contention was that ever since the setting of the statutory development boards, the allocation for removal of regional imbalance was less than 12 per cent. Under such circumstances, when the cabinet has already taken a decision for allocation of 40 per cent, if the recommendation of the SPB is accepted, a great injustice will be done for the backward regions,” the Congress Minister said.

Of course, when Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh found that there was some substance in the contention of Ranjeet Deshmukh, he postponed the discusion and also asked the SPB to meet the Agriculture and Textiles Minister to resolve the row.

The Fact Finding Committee headed by V M Dandekar had identified the backlog of Rs 3,186 crore in 1983. However, since the backlog was increasing very fast, in order to assess the correct extent of backlog, Governor P C Alexander had appointed a committee of experts for identifying appropriate indicators for assessing relative levels of development and for assessing backlog in different regions on the basis of the indicators. The indicators and backlog committee assessed the total backlog of Rs 15,355.77 crore as on 1994, which includes the backlog identified by the Dandekar Committee.

Deshmukh has demanded that a time bound plan should be chalked out for the removal of the regional imbalance. “No doubt Alexander has taken a lead in the removal of regional imbalance, but in view of the anti-Vidarbha recommendations of the SPB, the governor should not entrust the task to the government, instead, he should personally monitor the situation as per the provisions of article 371 (2) of the Constitution,” the Congress Minister said.