Ruling Congress and Opposition BJP locked horns on the issue of devolution of funds to the hill state after dissolution of the Planning Commission. The debate triggered when Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh flayed central government for non-allocation of funds after the constitution of Niti Aayog.
Replying to a query raised by BJP legislator Ravinder Singh Ravi, Virbhadra Singh in his reply studded with figures of central grants, said that the state had not got any central assistance from NITI Aayog, whereas, under the Planning Commission, the state had got central assistance to the tune of Rs 2,767 crore. lashing out the opposition for creating illusions on the matter, the CM said the state had been deprived of the central assistance after the creation of NITI Aayog by the central government. He said that not a single penny had been issued under the Niti Aayog to this Hill State and the State had been getting central assistance, which was allocated under 14 Finance Commission.
Presenting figures in support of his reply, he said that state had not received anything as General Central Assistance during 2015-16 and 2016-17, while Himachal Pradesh had got Rs 224.37 crore in 2012-13, Rs 1,458.97 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 1,382.75 crore in 2014-15.
Virbhadra Singh said the State had to take loans from foreign agencies like Asian Development Bank, World Bank etc. to carry on the developmental activities in the state.
Objecting to CM's reply, leader of opposition, Prem Kumar Dhumal said State Government had been getting more funds from the center after creation of NITI Aayog, but the head under which the grants were being devolved to the State had been changed. He said the Government had been distorting figures to camouflage its financial mismanagement.
Replying to another query in the question hour, Transport Minister GS Bali said the state had got 163 crore under JNNURM to purchase new buses and after the purchase of new buses the buses fleet of HPRTC had swollen to 3,000 from 1,700. He said as per the advice of Chief Minister 250 mini buses were also being purchased and the buses had been distributed to different depot as per their respective demand.
On supplementary enquiry on useless dumping of new buses, Bali said that the recruitment process for inducting new drivers in HPRTC had been going on, while conductors recruitment had been stayed by the court and it will be continued as and when the stay is vacated. Bali alleged that NDA Government had blocked Rs 63 crore workshop project allotted by the last UPA Government. He appealed Opposition to assist him to get the workshop project re-allocated from the Central Government so that Rs 21 crore installment is released for construction of workshops.