The House continued its discussion on Budget 2016-17.Today 17 members discussed the budget that and put forth their suggestions.Mr. Ghulam Nabi Monga said that Government should honour the commitments made by Late Mufti Mohammad Syed.Demanding roll back of taxes raised on the aviation fuel, Mr. Monga said the hike will badly affect the tourism industry of the state.He said that Panchayats are the pillars of democracy and government should consider the increase in their remuneration.Besides, he stressed for making the implementation of 7th pay commission a priority and also demanded enhancement of legislators’ salaries.
Mr. Monga also pleaded for the revival of 10 Mega Watt Mohra Power Project in Uri. Mr. Qaiser Jamsheed Lone said that relief should be distributed to all the flood affectees, besides due attention should be paid to address the unemployment issues in the state.Asking the Government to implement the promises made in the previous budget, Mr. Lone demanded roll back of the tax on aviation fuel.Demanding increase in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from two to five crores, he also asked for the increase in the salaries of legislators. Mr. Surender Kumar Choudhary appreciated the budget and said that it has kept the provision of regularizing 60,000 daily wagers, besides making the tendering of civil works more transparent.He also demanded rehabilitation of Rajouri and Poonch migrants on the lines of Akhnoor migrants, and asked for hand pumps for people living in the far flung areas including Rajouri and Poonch.
He also appreciated the Government for giving 30 units of free power to BPL families, besides establishing Journalists Welfare Fund. Mr. Saif-ud-din Bhat said that giving autonomy to Universities is a big step towards making them self-sufficient. He also appreciated the Government’s move to give contractors right to purchase the construction material on their own.Allotting funds to develop police stations, waiving off 50 percent on KCC loans, and giving 30 free units to BPL families are the welcome steps, Mr. Bhat said.He requested for establishing laboratories for agriculture, and horticulture in the budget. Mr. Ajat Shatru Singh said that the budget should focus on systematic change in managing assets and liabilities.He said that schemes exclusively meant for women would go a long way in giving boost to the confidence of female folk in the state, and asked for roll-back of increase in various taxes. Mr. Singh suggested creating single window system for industrial sector, and asked to keep some funds for disaster management system in the state. Besides, he also requested for starting train services for Rajouri, and Poonch areas, saying it will give boost to these areas.Mr. Jughal Kishore Sharma demanded Government to roll back raise in various taxes, and asked to give special benefits to far flung areas to develop an industrial set up there. He also asked to implement the decisions taken in District Development Board meetings. He also asked for increasing salaries of legislators, and increase in the pension of former legislative.
Mr. Khursheed Alam said that the budget is written in a simple language that even a common man can understand. He said that the budget has the provision to regularize 60,000 daily rated and casual workers.He also added that adequate provisions should be made for taking up environmental conservation and preservation steps.Dharam Bir Singh Oberoi said that Government should put a check on the prices of edibles and waive off taxes on garments.Sofi Yousuf said that 40% of flood affected population have not been provided relief due to which they did not construct or repair their damaged houses. He demanded immediate relief to them for their rehabilitation.He also advocated for rolling back of the aviation fuel increase as it will impact the Tourism sector in the state. Sham Lal Bhagat, said that Panchs and Sarpanchs are the basic pillars of democracy and accordingly a separate Budget should also have been presented on the analogy of separate Power budget to strengthen these PRIs in the state. He also demanded increasing wages of the Panchs and Sarpanchs.Mr Bhagat also demanded setting up of fruit mandies in Chenab valley. He said setting up of mandies will not only attract the people towards Horticulture sector but also provide employment avenues to the rural unemployed youth. Dr Shahnaz Ganai hailed the provisions kept for women empowerment in Budget. She said the exclusive Bus service started in Srinagar is an appreciable initiative by first ever Woman Chief Minister, but this step needs to be extended to major towns and cities.
She said that the decision for providing 5 marlas land for people living near Line of Control has not been implemented on ground resulting that the people living there are suffering badly. Advocating the rollback of Toll tax Dr Ganai said this will become a burden for the common people resulting in inflation. Charanjeet Singh Khalsa demanded imposition of tax on Liquor instead of bakery and consumable items. He said nothing substantial has been kept in favour of private transporters of the state and demanded rolling back of Toll tax.He also demanded for setting up of Dairy Farm at Nowshera, where besides the production of Milk, Cowdung can be used for local Gobar Gas plant which will provide electricity to a vast area. Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri said that Rs14000 Crore share of GPF money of Government employees should have been properly utilized for revenue realization in different sectors. He also demanded implementation of 7th Pay Commission to the state employees.
He also advocated returning of power projects from NHPC. Vibodh Gupta called for increasing fund provision to each police station of the state as the same cannot suffice the requirements of the police. He said the funds need to be increased and paid on monthly basis.He also demanded separate funds for Patwar Khanas ,so that the menace of corruption is eradicated to a large extent. He demanded development of hilly areas on priority for which sufficient funds are being provided by the central and state government under various schemes.
Vikramaditya Singh said that the previous Mufti Sayeed led Government had announced making Jammu as a Tourist Hub but no funds have been kept for the same in the general budget.He said that in order to achieve tangible results in Horticulture sector there is a dire need to set up Cold storage units across the state. He also suggested that de-weeding work on Dal lake should be given to a private firm so that the world famous lake is saved from further pollution. Surinder Ambardar pleaded for revival of sick industrial units in the state which will provide employability to the youth. He said there is need to enhance the Budget of IT and youth entrepreneurs. Firdous Tak said that Chenab valley has great potential in each and every sector, in view of its water bodies and dense forests. He said the Government has not kept sufficient provisions for development of Chenab valley. He also advocated utilizing the funds in full to avoid their lapsing.