Ex-CM Hooda demands white paper on Haryana's economy

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today termed the budget estimates for 2017-18 as "directionless" and demanded that government issue a white paper on the state's fiscal health.
"The budget is hollow and directionless. While the state government has tried to portray Haryana's fiscal health in its pink, the reality speaks otherwise... The government should issue a white paper on state's economy," Hooda told reporters here.
Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu presented the budget estimates for 2017-18 in the state assembly on Monday.
The Congress leader and two-time chief minister hit out at the BJP government for pushing the state into the "debt trap".

"The outstanding debt of Haryana at the end of 2013-14 was Rs 60,300 crore at 15.05 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product. In 2014-15, the outstanding debt was Rs 70,931 crore at 16.21 per cent of GSDP... The debt volume will further go up resulting in total debt of Rs 1,41,854 crore in 2017-18, which is at 22.93 per cent of GSDP," he claimed.
He further stated that as per Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act of the State, the debt GSDP ratio was to be brought down to 20.45 per cent and 20.92 per cent during 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively.

"But the trends show the reverse position. This debt ratio which was 15-16 per cent of GSDP up to 2014-15, has reached the level of nearly 23 per cent. In this way, it may not be possible to bring down the debt GSDP ratio to the desired level resulting in not a good financial management," he said.

Hooda also claimed that the Manohar Lal Khattar government had during its tenure so far released 17,000 acres of land after denotifying it from the acquisition process.
"They did not want to acquire this land as they would have to pay higher compensation to the farmers. Therefore, the government opted to release the land from the acquisition process and return it to the owners. Out of the land released at various places in the state, 3,400 acres was released in Gurugram alone," he claimed.

He also charged the government with mishandling the Jat quota stir issue and going back on its promises made to the community.
"The Chief Minister made the promises to the community last year. However, the government went back on its promise resulting in fresh round of agitation this year. For past 36 days, they have been sitting on dharnas, but government has failed to meet their demands," Hooda said, adding, "This government has lost its credibility.