Bihar Seeks Rs 2,100 Crore Plan Outlay

Earlier, state planning minister Tulsi Singh had admitted there had been more than 50 per cent cut in the outlay. It's primarily due to slashing of Central assistance from 1990-91 onwards, when the Janata Dal took over the reins in the state.

According to state government's own admission, against the plan outlays of Rs 1,805 crore in 1990-91, Rs 2,251 crore in 1991-92, Rs 2,292 crore in 1992-93, Rs 2,300 crore in 1993-94 and Rs 2,400 crore in 1994-95, the actual amount spent was Rs 1,257 crore, Rs 1,031 crore, Rs 1,149 crore, Rs 750 crore and Rs 916 crore, respectively.

The leader of the opposition said against the approved plan outlay of Rs 13,000 crore for the eighth plan, the Bihar government failed to utilise even Rs 8,000 crore. A poor state like Bihar can ill afford such financial mismanagement, Modi said.

Finance department sources said planning commission deputy chairman Madhu Dandavate had earlier fixed August 21 to finalise the state's annual plan outlay but deferred the date to September 10 at the request of the state government. The meeting, however, could not take place and now is slated for September 18. Sources said the finance department still has not decided on the quantum of additional resource mobilisation it would require for the period.

One of the reason for delaying the final plan papers to be submitted to the planning commission.

Sources said the state has not been able to curb the ever-increasing establishment cost and said a major share of state revenue is being spent to meet salary expenses of its employees. In 1995-96, the cash-strapped state had to go public to meet the resources of a few developmental projects. A public issue of Rs 60 crore was floated a couple of months ago.

Clearing files the Laloo way

simply put my signatures on the files presented to me by officials. This startling revelation was made by Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav at a conference of district judges and district magistrates on Sunday.

Though Laloo, who holds the finance portfolio, was frank about knowing nothing about the budget-making process, he is on his way to Delhi to attend a planning commission meeting to finalise the state's annual plan outlay for this year. Laloo had told the gathering that though he has presented seven budgets ,his knowledge of budget papers was limited.

His detractors, however, say Yadav is trying to pass the buck on to the bureaucracy following the arrest of his close aide and Janata Dal MLA R K Rana in the animal husbandry scam. Bihar Assembly opposition leader S K Modi has demanded immediate resignation of Yadav as finance minister following his admission ignorance of the budget-making process.

The Chief Minister has no right to continue in office even for a second.