The Orissa budget for 1997-98 has sparked off serious dissention in the state cabinet following drastic cuts in the fund allocations for most of the departments.Of the total 33 departments under the state government, the allocation for 23 have been slashed, said a source. The dissention is particularly pronounced as the departments directly under Chief Minister J B Patnaik and Deputy Chief Minister B K Biswal, who is also the state finance minister, have cornered over 60 per cent of the total outlay leaving their cabinet colleagues high and dry.
For example, the energy department under the Chief Minister, with an allocation of Rs 804.6 crore accounts for 28.63 per cent of the total outlay, while the irrigation department under Biswal comes next with 25.52 per cent. Other departments like women and child welfare, and agriculture under the Chief Minister have shares of 4.2 per cent and 2.12 per cent of the total plan amount. Against this, departments like higher education, health, rural development, works and social welfare departments which have crucial roles to develop the much required social infrastructure, create job opportunities in the rural area and benefit the poor directly have received allocations of 1.96 per cent, 1.5 per cent, 3.4 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 3.21 per cent respectively. This is in contrast with the Union budget for 1997-98 laid in Parliament on Friday. which has given thrust to the poverty alleviation and social welfare programmes and is likely to send wrong signals about the governments purpose, said a senior minister requesting anonimity.
Infact, a pre-budget cabinet meeting held some days back had witnessed a stormy scene over the issue when several ministers complained of the drastic cut in the fund allocation to their departments and warned that this would hit developmental programmes in the rural areas.
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Biswal however brushed aside such complains in yesterdays post-budget briefing. The allocations have been made as per the priorities of the government. Nobody should grumble about it, he said.