Implementation of budget promises: Ripun Bora dares FM for open debate

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: APCC president Ripun Bora has challenged State Finance Minister HimantaBiswaSarma for an open debate over the implementation of schemes that were announced in the State budgets since 2016-17.

Earlier, Bora had stressed that the BJP (BharatiyaJanata Party)-led State government had failed to implement the promises made in their budget speeches in the last four financial years. He said that the Congress would publish a book and distribute among every household about the failure of the government in implementing budget promises.

In this connection, Bora had said that the Congress would address four press conferences about the government's failure in implementing the budget. In the first press meet held on October 30, Bora highlighted the 'failure' of the State government in implementing the 2016-17 budget promises. Following the press meet, HimantaBiswaSarma did challenge the Congress to send a representative   eam to discuss the implementation of the budget.

In response to the challenge, Bora has written a letter to the Finance Minister to hold an open debate in front of journalists and intellectuals at any public place or a press club.

In the second press meet held here on Monday, Bora highlighted the 'failure' of the government in the 2017-18 budget implementation.

The leader discussed 33 promises made in the budget speech delivered by Sarma, which the government has 'failed' to keep.

"In 2017-18, the government introduced the SVAYEM scheme where it promised to give financial support to one lakh youths for industrial and commercial sectors. However, till date the government has only provided financial assistance to 7,000 youths. The government said it will set up one lakh SHGs for women with Rs 5 lakh assistance for every group. But, till February, 2019 the SHGs have received around Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000," Bora said.

Further, the leader asserted that the works for PradhanMantriAwasYojana (Urban) have not been started in various urban areas of the State.

"In 2017-18, the government promised to complete 1 lakh houses under PradhanMantriAwasYojana (Rural) but only 16,856 houses were built. The speech also mentioned about revival of tea gardens under Assam Tea Corporation Limited. Whereas contradicting their promise, the government is now on the verge of selling some of the tea gardens," Bora said.

Talking about the construction projects announced by the government, Bora pointed out that the government didn't keep its promises to develop district hospitals and bridges.

"The budget speech stated that every district hospital will have a dialysis centre but the work has not yet been started in most of the districts. While the construction work of the two proposed bridges over the Brahmaputra has come to a grinding halt. The project to open 33 skill development centres in the State is also not completed fully. Only 1,029 trained people were employed by the government in these centres. The work for the proposed Khanapara Small Interstate Bus Terminal has not yet been started. Similarly, the Multi-Model Terminal project in Jagiroad has also not executed as yet. Moreover, the project to set up of 23 science centres, procurement of 39,000 deep tube wells for the Irrigation department also hasn't taken off," Bora stressed.

Bora slammed the government for its 'false promises' in solving the artificial floods in Guwahati. He alleged that the Rs 40 crore allocated to solve the issue was used to clean 250 city drains.

Lastly, Bora claimed that the government assured the people of completing NRC (National Register of Citizens) update, but it hindered the process instead.

Among other 'failed promises' that Bora highlighted in the press meet were Science City Project in Sonapur, Express Highway in both sides of Brahmaputra River, construction of 48 railway over bridges in the State, and converting 1,000 wooden bridges into RCC ones. 

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