The Punjab government will bring out a white paper on development, governance reforms and the financial position of the state, Governor V P Singh Badnore said today.
In his 34-minute address to the Punjab Assembly here, the first after the return of the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government, he said, "The white paper will clearly apprise the common man of the situation inherited by the present government."
During the last 10 years, total debt of the state has increased from Rs 48,344 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 1,82,537 crore at the end of 2016-17, he said in his address to the first session of the 15th state Assembly.
"The state government, during the years 2015-16 and 2016-17, borrowed Rs 15,632 crore on behalf of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) alone," he said.
In order to settle the gap in Cash Credit Limit (CCL) for food, the government had agreed to a term loan of Rs 31,000 crore which further burdened the state, he said.
Even the Atta Dal Scheme and the Urban and Rural Missions were undertaken by borrowing huge amount of money from commercial banks, mortgaging a large number of properties of the state, he said.
"This mismanagement has saddled the government with huge liablities in terms of non-payment of arrears of dearness allowances, salaries and non-payment of old age and other pensions and non-payment of power subsidy to the PSPCL," the Governor said.
He said the government will take up the issue of term loan of Rs 31,000 crore with the Union government to help the state.
He said an Expenditure Reforms Commission will be set up to examine all government expenditures, to ensure prudence and efficiency in spending by various departments and other organisations funded by the government.
"The financial crisis faced by the state has already taken its toll on the growth of the state's economy," the Governor said.
He said the government was fully committed to restore the financial position of the state and to put it on a high growth trajectory by improving the quality of services by accelerating the rate of growth and by affording quality employment opportunities, especially for the youth.
Referring to the contentious issue of sharing of river
waters, he said the previous government allegedly failed to protect the interest of Punjab by not properly defending the legal case and added that the government was fully committed to get justice for the state.
"The government shall take all possible administrative and legal measures to defend the rights of the state," he added.
He said the government will formulate and pursue a proposal for canalisation of major rivers of the state--Ravi, Beas and Sutlej--and construction of high-speed economic corridors on bunds. It will secure livelihood for a large number of farmers and also open up possibilities of jobs and businesses for the local population.
The focus of the government will remain on providing Punjabis freedom from VVIP culture, corruption and financial bankruptcy and to restore the rule of law in order to regain the state's place as one of the fastest growing states in the country, he said.
Hitting out at the previous Badal regime, he said the state has seen deterioration in the quality of governance with increased political interference in administration through 'Halqa Incharges', forcible occupation of government and private businesses, both in transport and mining sectors.
"There has been an increase in the deplorable cases of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and the law and order issues emerging from it and from the operations of gangsters in the state which have not been resolved yet," he said.
The previous government's claims of governance reforms have also not borne fruit for the common man who aspired and voted for a change in the government to achieve a better quality of living, he said.
He said the government will revisit the Unified Service Delivery centers to make amends and improve their quality and efficacy.
To lend a degree of probity to the conduct of persons in public life, the government has decided that all MLAs and MPs would declare the details of their immovable properties on January 1 every year and for the the year 2017-18, they would do so by July 1, 2017, he said.
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He said the existing Punjab Lokpal Act shall be repealed and in its place a more comprehensive legislation would be enacted which would be applicable to those occupying high public offices, including the chief minister, ministers, non-officials and officials/employees.
He said the government would endeavour to provides job for every household in the state in a time-bound manner.
Besides, one lakh taxies and light commercial vehicles per annum would be given to the unemployed youth, he said, adding that at least 25,000 tractors along with other agricultural implements would be given every year at subsidised rates to the unemployed youth, enabling them to start their own ventures in agriculture.
He said the government will give smartphones to eligible youths in order to encourage and incentivise them to use technology.
He said the government would provide effective policing for safeguarding the life, property and liberties of citizens of the state.
NRI Property Safeguards Act will be enacted for protecting the property of Non-Resident Indians, he said, adding that no monopolisation or cartelisation would be allowed in cable TV networks and a statewide statutory cable authority would be constituted.
"The Conflict of Interest Act will be enacted to ensure that MLAs/ministers are unseated if found to have business/ financial interests that conflict with their official capacity," he said.
An Agriculture Production Board (APB) will be set up to supervise and guide production process from seeding to post harvesting operations in tandem with agriculture production plans, he said.
A vigorous campaign to educate the youth and treat and rehabilitate drug users with compassion will be launched to ensure zero tolerance to drugs, he said.
The Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act will be enacted, he said, adding that the government has set up a Special Task Force in the office of the chief minister for day to day monitoring of the measures taken to check supply and consumption of drugs in the state.
He said the government would continue the supply of free power to the farmers in the state.
