The Punjab Government on Tuesday demanded from the Centre to set up a review panel to settle Rs 31,000 crore debt incurred for foodgrain procurement during the previous Akali Dal-BJP regime.
The debt burden and other grain procurement related issues were raised by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh at a meeting with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan during his visit to the national capital.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh sought Centre’ support in settling the unsustainable debt burden of Rs 31,000 crore while requesting to setup a review committee to examine the matter afresh.
“Earlier, the Jha committee had given suggestions to address the debt matter. All issues were sorted out then. Chief Minister wants a separate committee to review it again. We will discuss with the Finance Ministry officials," Paswan said after the meeting.
The state pointed to difficulties to service the debt as the annual interest burden is about Rs 3,240 crore. It wants waiver of interest rate and even the Centre's help in clearing the debt.
“Since the Rs 31,000 crore debt issue is related to the Finance Ministry, our Ministry could only examine the matter and make suitable recommendations to the Finance Ministry, as suggested by Capt Amarinder,” the Union Minister explained.
He said that there was some confusion over the findings of the Jha committee, which was set up by the central government in April 2016 to examine the Punjab Government’s claim of Rs 20,000 crore in foodgrain dues. The Chief Minister had, therefore, suggested setting up of another committee to look into the entire issue again.
Paswan also accepted a request from the Chief Minister to allow higher user charges in lieu of depreciation of once-used gunny bags for the forthcoming Kharif season in Punjab. He assured Capt Amarinder that necessary orders for this would be issued this week.
While Capt Amarinder described the meeting as fruitful, Paswan said that the Secretaries of both the sides will take the discussions forward. All the issues were being amicably resolved, said the Union Minister.