Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill 2022 passed in Assembly

Raipur:Baghel said that the Accountant General has said in his report that this year’s budget is surplus which is an achievement of the state government. 

Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the Appropriation Bill, 2022 allowing the state government to spend Rs 1,12,603 crore from its consolidated fund during the financial year 2022-23. While presenting the Bill in the Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the state has a surplus budget today due to its better financial management. “We have overcome the crisis created by Covid pandemic,” said Baghel while taking a dig at the Opposition for targeting the state government on financial management issues.

Baghel, who holds the finance portfolio, said that former chief minister Dr Raman Singh and Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik used to say that the economy of the state is on a deathbed.

Baghel said that it is true that 80 percent of the total budget has been taken by the government in the form of loans. Jharkhand has 89% loan, Uttarakhandhas 104 per cent loan. Uttar Pradesh has 92 percent, Gujarat has 146 percent loan, Madhya Pradesh 125 percent and Haryana has taken 126 percent loan. “Now tell us whose economy is better. I do not know why Dr Raman Singh is saying that the economy is on the death bed,” said Baghel.

Dr Raman Singh had estimated a loss of Rs 3000 crore during the talk on GSDP in the previous sessions of the House. The central government itself says to take a loan against GST. “We took a loan of Rs 3000 crore. This year also the GST loan is more than Rs 4000 crore. “This year we have taken the lowest loan after 2012-2013,” said Baghel.

Baghel said that the Accountant General has said in his report that this year’s budget is surplus and this is an achievement of the state government. “You should stop worrying about the economy of Chhattisgarh,” said Baghel.

The total receipts are 1 lakh 4 thousand crores and the financial loss is Rs 4600 crore. The state government has been successful in reducing the fiscal deficit to 3.3%. The state’s GSDP is 11.35 percent, which is better than the national average.

“We fulfill whatever we promise. We are not like the Central government who promised to give Rs 15 lakh each in the accounts of people by bringing black money from Swiss banks,” said Baghel.

BJP MLA Dr Krishnamurti Bandhi said that the number of shops of ganja and cannabis should be increased in the state, quoted Baghel asking him to write a letter to the Center for this.

To strengthen the police administration, 226 new posts are being created.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushiksaid

the money should be spent for development. He said that the state is one the verge of destruction and therefore he opposed the Appropriation Bill.

In the Rajiv Mitan Yojana, there is a provision to give Rs 132 crore to more than 1300 clubs in a year. The state government wants to promote leftist mindset through these clubs, said Kaushik.

The Chief Minister said that the naxal menace has been reduced in the state while replying to a question of MLA Ajay Chandrakar who wanted to know about those responsible for the rise in Naxaliteincidents in the state from 1980 to 2000. Chandrakarsaid that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country, where 60 elephants died due to electrocution. The government cannot escape this responsibility.

There were 700 liquor counters during the time of Raman Singh government, but now there are more than 1400 counters. The government is not even fulfilling the promises made in its so-called manifesto.