Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Too many projects, limited funds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Too many projects needing funds and not enough resources. Add to that the pulls and pressures of coalition politics. That defines the issue the State is debating these days.

The problem has become acute with the Ministers openly accusing the Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac of not sparing them enough funds.

Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran is peeved by the fact that the Finance Department is not sanctioning the funds sought for the crop insurance programme (Kisansree).

The Minister demanded that the programme should be implemented throughout the State and the premium should be paid in full by the government. Funds for that had been budgeted.

The Finance Minister maintained that the programme could be carried out only on a pilot basis.

The premium rates were high and coverage was not properly targeted.

So, Mr. Ratnakaran proposed that he would discuss the matter with the Finance Minister.

If necessary, the matter would be taken up in the Left Democratic Front State Committee.

Other departments, especially the Public Works Department, are also critical of the Finance Department withholding funds for road works.

The Kerala Congress leader P.J. Joseph himself voiced the criticism in the open.

The Transport Department wants the government to shoulder the pension obligations of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. But the Finance Department is not willing to commit funds for that.

Allocations for market intervention by Civil Supplies Corporation were also not liberal.

Power tariffs in the State went up because the Finance Department was not willing to extend subsidy.

There are restrictions on spending by the local self-government also.

The promise of ‘one-rank one-pension’ for government employees is in limbo.

The Finance Department points out that the amount at its disposal is limited.

Apart from tied funds, it has only limited resources for other projects. So, it cannot sanction funds liberally.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has not been able to broker peace between the Ministers or adjudicate priorities so far.

Mr. Ratnakaran has complained to him about the criticisms raised by Mr. Isaac against him.

“Let the Chief Minister decide whether the Agriculture Department or the Finance Department is at fault,” the Agriculture Minister said.

The RSP also aired criticisms against the Finance Minister on Saturday.

General secretary K. Pankajakshan said at a public meeting that the Finance Department was failing in revenue collection.

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