Govt to come out with White Paper on state’s finances

Sarbjit Dhaliwal &

Ruchika M Khanna

‘Fa.uj peechhe hati, aur kuain mein zehar chhod gayi..’ This is how newly inducted Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal reacted after being briefed about the state’s economy by officers. No wonder his immediate response is to issue a White Paper on the matter; order a third-party audit into the past three years of government expenditure; and provide a booster shot to the state’s sagging finances.What Manpreet has inherited from the Akali-BJP government is a debt burden of Rs 1.78 lakh crore, pending unpaid bills to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore and a whopping revenue deficit of Rs 8,000 crore. In the coming fiscal, when he will present the Budget proposals, he will have to maintain a fine balance between curtailing expenditure, revving up revenue and shouldering the government’s welfare-related responsibilities (the promised sops). The state’s total debt servicing is expected to be Rs 6,000 crore  more than what the state can borrow.But Manpreet loves challenges, and is willing to take the new one head-on. “They have sinned… Badal saab and his government. The state’s taxes have been looted in the past 10 years. They had a very short-sighted vision to rule… nothing has been left for the next generation… Sukhbir Singh Badal has never read any book other than a cheque book,” he says, targeting his estranged cousin and SAD president.“We will have to start from scratch to rebuild Punjab’s economy. We are working on a three-pronged strategy: Increase the year-on-year revenue by Rs 10,000 crore (enough to meet the party’s poll promises); attract investment from big industrial houses, which will lead to more buoyancy in taxes; and cut down on government expenditure drastically,” he says.To increase revenue, especially when the GST rollout is expected from July onwards, the government is looking at incorporating features of the excise policy of states where the liquor sale is done through government undertakings. “We will study the Tamil Nadu model and may emulate it. I will also look at the model of West Bengal, which has become an economically healthy state in the past few years, even though it was considered a debt-stressed state along with Punjab and Kerala,” he says.In the coming days, the Congress government plans to launch a major drive to draw investment to the state. The state may soon see HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited — that runs the Bathinda refinery — invest Rs 22,000 crore to set up downstream petrochemical industry.Government expenditure, too, will be cut drastically. “We might close down all loss-making government undertakings that are a burden on the exchequer,” says Manpreet, reiterating that he has the backing of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on these issues.He says talks will be initiated with the Centre to reduce the interest rate on the loan of Rs 30,000 crore that the state has taken to settle its legacy food credit account, which could help the government save Rs 1,200 crore in interest repayment. Manpreet will also propose that all MLAs take a cut of Rs 1,000 per month in salary as a symbolic gesture to curtail expenditure.Manpreet says he will bring a vote-on-account for three months during the Assembly session beginning on March 24, while the regular budget is expected to be presented in May. As the head of the Congress manifesto committee, which promised several sops to the people, he says the document is sacrosanct and all promises will be fulfilled. “These were made not out of populism but to kickstart the economy,” he says, adding that farm subsidy will continue.

Will cooperate with govt on drugs: AAP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today offered to cooperate with the Amarinder-led state government for a drug-free Punjab.Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka met the Chief Minister today and offered cooperation on the government’s war against drugs. In a statement, he said everybody in Punjab knew who were behind the drug supply racket and the CM should act against those elements.A day after confrontation with the Congress on the alleged ill-treatment of AAP MLAs during the oath-taking ceremony, Phoolka had a cordial meeting with the CM today. Reminding Amarinder about his oath he took in Bathinda to rid the state of drugs in four weeks after coming to power, Phoolka said the countdown for the task had started.“I am sure that Amarinder will fulfill his promise and curb the drug trade by April 16 (30 days) and send all drug peddlers in Punjab to jail,” he said.The leader, meanwhile, said all party MLAs and leaders would shun the VIP culture and won’t use red beacon on their vehicles. He said the AAP MLAs would claim only necessary perks, which would be needed to perform their duties towards the people.Ex-DGP ready to chip inAmritsar: Former DGP (Prisons) Shashi Kant has offered assistance to the CM for tackling the drug menace. He stated that his department had submitted a list with the state government in 2007, mentioning the names of top politicians and officers who were linked to the drug trade. “I urge Capt Amarinder to trace the list,” he said, stressing the need to set up an anti-narcotics commission. TNS

AAP does a U-turn on security, vehicles

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to have taken a U-turn on its pre-poll promise of “ending the VIP culture”.When some of the Congress leaders have refused to accept the official car or security, most of the 20 AAP MLAs have accepted the two facilities.Sources said the matter was discussed in the party’s legislature meeting on Thursday evening. It was decided that the decision of accepting or refusing the official vehicle and security should be left to the MLA.The AAP legislators’ choice contradicts party’s promise made in its election manifesto. “No AAP MLA, minister, MP or any other senior leader will use vehicles with hooters and red beacon lights,” it read.The manifesto also said the “VIP culture will be ended by cutting down personal security by 95 per cent”.Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP chief whip, confirmed that most of the party MLAs had accepted security as well as the vehicle. He justified the decision by saying that in light of the law and order situation in Punjab, an MLA could not survive without security. On official vehicle, he said most of the legislators were economically weaker and did not own cars. “Everybody can’t be like Manpreet Badal,” he said.Going against the spirit of “aam aadmi” most of the AAP MLAs are reluctant to accept ordinary cars. Instead, they have asked for better ones.Barnala MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said he was given a Maruti Gypsy, which he refused to accept. “Gypsy is of no use to me, so I have asked for Toyota Innova,” he said, adding that he received a call from the police for security, but he refused.The others who refused to accept security include Bhadaur MLA Pirmal Singh and Mehal Kalan MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori. The two, however, have accepted the official vehicle. Pirmal Singh said that since he did not own a car, he had requested for the official vehicle. “I will accept whichever car the government offers,” he said.Most MLAs accept official car, gunmenWith most of AAP’s 20 MLAs opting for official vehicle and security, their choice contradicts party’s promise made in its election manifesto. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP chief whip, justified the move, citing law and order situation in Punjab. On official vehicle, he says most legislators do not own cars.Shun VIP culture, Phoolka tells govtSenior AAP leader and Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka on Friday reminded Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of the Congress’ pre-poll promise of ending the “VIP culture”. “He and his ministers should avoid the use of red beacon atop their official vehicles,” he said. “People of Punjab suffered because of the ‘VIP culture’ adopted by high-headed SAD-BJP leaders. Now, the time is ripe for the Congress to fulfil its promise,” Phoolka said. The Dakha MLA said no party leader and MLA would have red beacon atop their vehicles and would claim perks necessary to perform their duty.

Cabinet to take call on power tariff today

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

In the first Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow, the Congress government will issue a consent letter to the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) for fixing the new power tariff after it is decided how to rationalise the tariff, even as the PSPCL is seeking a hike of 50 per cent.The new Excise Policy for the next fiscal will also be discussed tomorrow, though it might be announced later.The Cabinet is expected to approve setting a time-bound commission of inquiry to look into cases of alleged political vendetta against its political opponents and order a probe to pinpoint misdeeds relating to financial irregularities in the bungling in the allotment of tubewell connections causing a loss to the state by the SAD-BJP led government.The Excise Department is mooting a total change in policy and could emulate Tamil Nadu. The government will have to take a final call on how many changes it proposes and whether to reduce the quota of liquor by five per cent. Since the department is with the CM, officials are tight-lipped about the contents of the policy. “If the total liquor quota lifted so far is taken as the base, the liquor quota could go up without compromising on the revenue from licence fee”, said sources.The cabinet will also give a nod for 50 per cent reservation for women in Local Bodies and 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs. Ex-post facto approval for appointment of Suresh Kumar as Chief Principal Secretary will also be taken in the meeting.Besides, nearly 100 poll-related promises — without any financial bearing and related to good governance and without any financial bearing, and constituting a Special Task Force (STF) to wipe out the drugs from the state within four weeks are expected to be cleared.

Job quota on agenda

• The Cabinet will also give a nod for 50 per cent reservation for women in Local Bodies and 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs
• The new Excise Policy for the next fiscal will also be discussed, though it might be announced later

Will streamline varsities’ working, says Chaudhary

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

Admitting that dealings of the state government with the state universities have proved a “grey area”, Minister for School and Higher Education Aruna Chaudhary today asserted that the state government would not hesitate in probing irregularities, if any, committed by the universities.After assuming her office today, Chaudhary said this when asked as to what extent the government would intervene into the functioning of the universities, which are otherwise autonomous institutions.“I know there are grey areas and there is a lot of miscommunication (in different authorities regulating universities). Whatever discrepancies have occurred in the past, we will ensure that these are tackled amicably. But we won’t hesitate in taking strong action,” Chaudhary told The Tribune.Pertinently, a day before the Amarinder-led government assumed charge, Vice Chancellors Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University tendered their resignation.In case of Punjabi University, teaching and non-teaching employees have been alleging that massive irregularities were committed by the management.The minister, meanwhile, began her first day in the office by paying surprise visit to two schools in Zirakpur block where final examinations of Class X were underway.

30 buses not plying as drivers ‘doing other tasks’

Union alleges officials want pvt players to benefit

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 17

The Punjab Roadways Employees’ Union (Independent) has alleged that nearly 30 buses of Punjab Roadways (Muktsar depot) were not plying on roads just because drivers and conductors were being forced to do other tasks in the office. They even alleged that the officials concerned had done this to benefit private transporters.State general secretary of the union Nachattar Singh said, “We brought this issue to the notice of the Principal Secretary, Transport, last week, after which an inquiry was marked to the General Manager of the Ferozepur depot. After the inquiry, some drivers and conductors returned to their original duties, but some buses are still lying parked.”However, Charanjit Singh Brar, General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Muktsar, said, “We are facing acute shortage of staff, thus with the permission of seniors some drivers and conductors were given other duties. There is nothing illegal in it. The same practice is being followed at other depots too. Now, all buses are plying on their allotted routes.”