Dhumal hits out at HP govt over 'poor' economic situation

Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly P K Dhumal today hit out at the Congress government over the "poor state of economy" and said most of the key indicators contributing to Gross Domestic product are sliding while the debt burden was mounting.
Initiating the discussion on annual budget for 2016-17, presented by chief minister Virbhadra Singh on March 8, Dhumal said the contribution of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry has come down from 21.1 per cent in 2000-01 to 14 per cent in 2014-15 while the debt burden which was Rs 35,105 crore on March 2015 was set to increase substantially in current year and next fiscal.

Dhumal said industrial growth has come down to 8.2 per cent, flight or shut down of industrial units is continuing and despite 415 per cent increase in deficit grants by the 14th Finance Commission which approved grants amounting Rs 40,666 crore to the state, the government was raising loans and accusing the Centre of not giving adequate financial assistance.
Dhumal reiterated his charge that the state was only remaining the schemes of the central government.
He said targets announced in the budget had not been achieved and there was huge gap in achievement and announcements.
He made a specific reference to outbreak of jaundice in Shimla which, he said, exposed the fact that people around the sewerage plant of Shimla Water Supply Scheme were defecating in open while the government has set a target to make the state open defecation free by 2017.

He said that the performance in respect of construction of houses for poor had not also been up to the mark.

Seeking status report on the constriction of tunnels and hydropower projects, Dhumal accused the state government of charging Rs 30 per LED bulb as handling charges and said that against normal cost of Rs 64-70, the electricity board is taking Rs 100 for a single LED bulb.
Dhumal blamed the officers for misguiding the chief minister and said that the notification regarding reducing the entertainment tax from 100 per cent to 10 per cent was issued by the then BJP government in May 2012.

He also said that the state government was not giving 80 per cent subsidy on anti-hail nets as 50 per cent of the subsidy was being given by the Centre and state subsidy was only 30 per cent and so far only 994 persons have been benefited under this scheme.
The Chief Minister assured the House of corrective action on the suggestions of the Leader of Opposition.
Participating in the debate, Congress MLA Rajesh Dharmani thanked the chief minister for increasing the award of raising voice against female foeticide from Rs 10,000 to Rs one lakh and raising the compensation for death from dog bite , electric shock to Rs 4 lakh.

He appealed to the government for providing house tax exemption to soldiers who have earned medals.