The allocation for urban development has posted a big spike only last year and after capturing 70 percent seats in the recently concluded Odisha ULB (urban local bodies) elections, the 2022-23 budget has effected a 14 percent hike for provisioning urban amenities and basic services to citizens dwelling in urban areas.
The Pujari Plot
In the year 2019-20, the actual expenditure on urban development in Odisha had been Rs 2,725 crore. In 2020-21, the Urban Development allocation had been Rs 2,554 cr. The allocation in Budget 2021-22 had been only Rs 2,209 cr.
Post taking feedback from the party over advantage BJD if polls held along with the Panchayat elections, especially when the Opposition is rudderless (mainly BJP) in the State, the Revised Estimates (RE) for Urban Development (Revenue+Capital) for the year 2021-22 had been pegged at Rs 3,461 cr - which means the government had increased its urban spending keeping in the mind the desired outcome at the hustings.
With the plot proving successful and post winning big in the urban elections concluded very recently, the Budget 2022-23 (I) has allocated a sum of Rs 3,964 cr for Urban Development in the State.
The above budget data clearly shows lesser allocation for urban development over the years. However, the same had posted a sharp rise in 2021-22 (RE) and the rest is history now.
BJD Urban Plan
Here is the PowerPoint presentation of the Budget's push for urban development in Odisha.
According to the minister, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) had allotted 791 flats/plots out of which hearing has concluded in 632 cases, whereas 159 cases are pending.
Similarly, the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) has allotted 921 DQ flats/plots. While hearing has been done in 112 cases, 809 cases are pending, sources said.
Morevoer, 67 plots/flats were allotted by the Odisha State Housing Board (OSHB) out of which hearing has concluded in 49 cases while 18 cases are still pending.
On the other hand, holding the State government accountable for the lapses, senior Congress leader Sarat Rout said as ministers, bureaucrats and influential people have been benefitted under the DQ, no action is being taken against the violators.
“As only four DQ allotments have been cancelled in last four years, it seems that the State government is only hoodwinking people,” Rout stated.
While reviewing the drinking water supply situation in the urban areas during a high-level meeting, Patnaik directed the department to ensure 100 per cent supply to each family in all the towns and cities and increase the per head drinking water supply to 70 litres in the urban areas by March 2019.
The meeting discussed about the number of sources and quantity of water being supplied to all towns and cities, steps being taken to measure the quantity of water being supplied and also the number of active connections.
The Chief Minister further directed the housing and urban development department to conduct a survey in all urban localities in the state and identify the families that have no pipe water facilities.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Niranjan Pujari, after the review meeting said, "Our target is to provide drinking water to all the houses by 2019, be it slum areas or other pockets. At present, around 60% people are facilitated with drinking water while rest 40% we have to achieve by next year."
As per a report of the housing and urban development department, a total of 760 projects are currently being implemented in the state at a cost of Rs 3596 crore to supply drinking water in all the urban local bodies.
This apart, the department has identified 422 areas under 185 wards of the 24 urban localities in the state having water scarcity and 1,869 PVC tanks have been put up to store and supply drinking water. Besides 219 water tankers have also been engaged in these areas, sources said.
Chief Secretary AP Padhi stated, "As per the review of Chief Minister, all the projects are underway at a good pace. Most of the projects will get completed by December this year, whereas a few mega projects would continue till March 2019."
"Review revealed that more than 15 industrial projects were expected to go for ground breaking ceremony in coming three to four months," said Pujari.
The meeting reviewed the progress of all the 124 investment intents received during the Investors Meet held at Mumbai, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar last year. The state had received investment intent of Rs 3,64,864 crore during these meets.
Out of these 124 intent proposals, so far 62 project proposals have progressed. This is about 50 per cent of the intents received by the state. "This is one of the highest rates of conversion of intents into proposals amongst all states in the country," chief secretary A P Padhi said.
Out of 62 proposals, 49 have already been cleared by the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority in less than four month period.
Industries secretary Sanjeeb Chopra said the state received significant investment in sectors such as food processing, petro chemicals, chemicals and plastics, infrastructure & logistics, renewable energy, tourism and health care.
The Committee is focused on grounding and implementation of these projects in a time bound manner, Pujari said while highlighting the importance for setting up of world-class industrial infrastructure facilities for the investors in the state.
He also called upon the department to ensure implementation of progressive reforms to make it further easy for businesses to set up and operate in the state.
Here is a quick look at the Ministers inducted today into the Naveen Patnaik cabinet in 2017.
BJD Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena: Pratap Jena took oath as cabinet minister in Naveen Patnaik cabinet in 2017 today. Was elected as MLA for first time from Kishannagar in 2000 and from Mahanaga in subsequent elections. Pratap Jena had held the portfolio of School and Mass Education Minister from 2009 to 2014.
Jayadev MLA Sashi Bhusan Behera (Cabinet Minister): Two time MLA from Balipatna (2009) and Jaydev (2014) Assembly Constituency. Known for his organisational skills, Sashi Bhusan Behera has also worked as vice-president in the party.
Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty (Cabinet Minister) : 5 time MLA since 1995 from Puri. Was speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2004 to 2008. Also worked as Panchayatiraj minister, Culture and Tourism and Law Minister in Naveen Patnaik government.
Bhandaripokhari MLA Prafula Samal (Cabinet Minister): A veteran politician,Prafulla Samal was elected MLA from Bhadrak for three terms and won from Bhandaripokhari constituency twice. Held important portfolios of Panchayatiraj, Culture and Tourism and Labour department as Minister.
Digapahandi MLA Surya Narayan Patro (Cabinet Minister) : A seasoned politician Surya Narayan Patro has been an MLA since 1990. Has discharged duties as Minister of IT, Forest and Environment, Energy, Revenue and Tourism departments in past.
MLA and former speaker Niranjan Pujari (Cabinet Minister) : 4 time MLA from Binika and Sonepur from 2000, Pujari had held the post of speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly and was Minister of Industries, Excise, Food and Consumer Welfare
Anant Das (Minister of State): Elected as MLA thrice from Bhograi from 2000 and also was member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly’s PAC and house committee.
Chandra Sarathi Behera (Minister of State): Elected as MLA from Salepur constituency from 2009 to 2014 and from Cuttack Sadar in 2014. Chandra Sarathi Behera has been given minister rank for the first time in Naveen Patnaik ministry.
Sushant Singh (Minister of State): Two time MLA from Bhatli constituency in 2009 and 2014.
Nrusingha Sahu: 4 time MLA from Pallahada and Parjang constituencies.
The BJP moved a notice for adjournment over the issue of power crisis in the state highlighting the state government’s failure in ensuring electricity for 24 hours. Similarly, the Congress moved a notice for an adjournment motion in the House over mining scam. However, the Speaker rejected both the notices.
Besides, farmers' issue was also raised in House. Highlighting various problems faced by farmers, BJD MLA Nrusingha Sahu said even though the Shakti Sugar Mill in Dhenkanal is running profitably, farmers are being being exploited there. He also appraised Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy that farmers are not getting subsidy at proper time. Besides, the MLA recommended for provision of insurance coverage to the farmers.
As soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour, Congress legislators stormed into the well of the State Assembly and shouted slogans demanding hike in the paddy MSP. Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati was stopped by the Assembly staff while attempting to climb atop the Speaker’s table.
Meanwhile, the BJP MLAs stood beside their seats in support of the demand for an increase in the paddy MSP.
Also read: Uproar in Odisha Assembly on farmers' issues
Though Minister Usha Devi was presenting some statements during the Question Hour, she was not audible clearly due to the Congress pandemonium.
Unable to run the House, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the proceedings till 12.30 pm.
When the House reassembled after the first adjournment, the Opposition din over the issue continued causing another adjournment till 3 pm.
Soon after the House assembled for the day, Congress MLAs raised the farmers’ protest in Keonjhar over distress sale of tomatoes in absence of required number of vegetable processing unit and cold storages. They rushed to the well of the House and shouted slogan against the government. The members of the Opposition bench also alleged that the farmers had also faced similar situation in Rayagada and Bargarh district earlier.
Demanding adequate compensation for the vegetable growers, the legislators demanded clarification from concerned minister. Some of them tried to climb the Speaker's podium. The law makers of Congress party further alleged that the financial backbone of farmers has been broken down post demonetisation.
Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes first and the House was adjourned till 3pm.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari today adjourned the House till 11.45 am amid din created by BJP and Congress members when an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition for a debate on occurrence of violence cases during the panchayat polls held recently in five phases across the State.
The Opposition legislators shouted slogans standing beside their seats on the second day of the Budget session. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 11.45 am.
Alleging farmers of the State are suffering due to the demonetisation, Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said during the zero hour there have been instances of vegetable distress sale in the State. “Situation has become akin to the Emergency period due to scarcity in cash availability in the market,” he claimed.
The demonetisation heat got some support from BJD MLA Samir Das in the House. Participating in the debate, Das said, “The BJP-led Central government has failed to tackle the situation after the demonetisation.”
Also read: No Bharat bandh, only protests over demonetisation: Congress
The Congress members demanded the Speaker’s ruling and a reply from the Odisha Finance Minister on the demonetisation.
Unable to run the House, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the proceeding of the Odisha Assembly till 3 pm.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Working Advisory Committee of the State Assembly after Speaker Niranjan Pujari agreed for the discussion in the House as per the calling attention motion notice by the Opposition.
Apart from this, discussions on slashing Central assistance for KBK district and tribal scholarship would be discussed during the calling attention motion in the House on December 6 and 7 respectively.
Besides, there would be discussions on Appropriation Bill for three days on December 8, 9 and 14.
The House on Saturday passed three important bills. They are Odisha Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, Bihar and Odisha Places of Pilgrimage (Amendment) Bill and Odisha Industries Service (Validation of Assistant Managers and Assistant Directors) (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
As soon as the Question Hour began, Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra drew the Speaker’s attention to allow a debate in the House on the Japanese Encephalitis while suspending the Question Hour.
But the Speaker rejected the LoP’s demand and decided to continue the Question Hour following which Bahinipati and Opposition members rushed to the Well in the House shouting slogans.
Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.
Also read: Winter Session: Assembly condoles death of leaders
Justifying the din created by the Opposition, the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said, "We had placed a motion for debate on a major issue. When hundreds of child have died of the Japanese Encephalitis and an unknown disease, the State government is in deep slumber as well as helpless. The government is not taking any stop to tackle the diseases. As the matter is of serious concern, I had requested the Speaker to cancel the Question Hour and have a debate on it in the House. But he did not accept the proposal forcing the Opposition legislators to protest and the House was adjourned till 3pm."
Mishra added, "Whenever the Opposition realises a major issue related to the interest of the State has to be discussed in House, they request the Speaker to prioritse the same and requests to cancel the Question Hour. This has happened several times in the Parliament and Assembly if someone looks at the past."
Also read: BJP to raise law and order, poor health services issues in Assembly
"Why there is a system for cancellation of the Question Hour to discuss major issues such as the kids death? Someone might ask why the issue cannot be debated during the zero hour. But we want ask is not the death of hundreds kid a serious matter," the Opposition leader added.
Mishra further stated, "We will request the Speaker again to prioritise the kids death issue and allow the house to debate on it."
Upon resumption at 3PM when the proceedings failed to return to normal, the speaker adjourned the house for another 30 minutes and called an all party meeting.
Later in the day, when proceedings returned to normal, the Finance minister tabled the supplementary budget.
Normalcy eluded the House for the ninth successive day today. As soon as the members assembled for the business of the day and before the Question Hour began, Opposition members created a ruckus demanding refund of deposits to investors affected by the chit-fund scam and dismissal of Justice MM Das.
Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm. Later, the demand of Urban Development was discussed and passed in the House after three adjournments. During the discussion of the demand of the Urban Development department, Opposition members staged a walkout.
Demand of other departments which were not passed in House was approved through guillotine. The House was adjourned till 10.30 am tomorrow.
The Assembly will remain closed on Monday because of Akshaya Trutiya, said the Speaker after the business advisory committee meeting.
Besides, the demands of different departments including SC/ST Welfare will be debated in the House on Tuesday.
The Speaker had called the all-party and business advisory committee meetings today to end the logjam in the House. However, the all-party meet which was held twice, failed to resolve the differences.
The House today ran for just two minutes as Congress members stormed into the well of the Assembly and shouted slogans whereas BJP members wore black jackets and protested over the chit fund scam and BJD bank account row.
The House was adjourned twice – first till 3 pm and then till 4 pm.
In a related development, Congress MLAs led by Narasingha Mishra met Governor SC Jamir at the Raj Bhavan here.
They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik alleging that democracy was in peril in the State, imposition of President’s rule in case the chief minister does not step down and removal of chit fund commission head Justice MM Das.
Congress members stormed into the well of the House and shouted slogans when the Speaker refused permission to discuss the motion. BJP members also stood near their seats in support of the Congress demand.
Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.
Naba Kishore Das, Congress MLA, said, “The government does not have any interest to develop the Odia language. We wanted that Odia should be declared as the public language, not only official language, on the occasion of Madhu Babu Jayanti.”
He added, “Activities report of departments is not presented in Odia in the Assembly whereas other states across the country are using their language as official one.”
Das further alleged, “The ruling party does not want Odia as official language, which is why the Speaker rejected the motion.”
Das added, “In 1985, during the JB Patnaik’s tenure as chief minister, Odia language was used at the HC registry. Later, Patnaik made it clear he would not see a file if it was not written in Odia.
Das mentioned, “People will understand government programmes better, if the policy is written in Odia.”
Refuting the charges, Capt Dibya Shanakar Mishra, BJD spokesperson, said, “Congress is directionless and their main problem is they do not know what to present. They are unnecessarily creating ruckus pressing for on adjournment motion.”
He satirically stated, “Do Congress and BJP exist to save Odia language? BJD got classical status for the language.”
Mishra added, “In the Assembly, bills are tabled in Odia only. Even Kosali is getting recognition as a regional language during the BJD government. We are interested to spread and develop the language.”
Bhubaneswar: Allegation of abduction against Textiles and Handicrafts minister Snehangini Chhuria rocked Odisha Legislative Assembly again today after the Opposition created a din demanding chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s statement over the issue.
Unable to run the House, speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 12.15 pm. When the House reassembled, the speaker gave a ruling that the government will give a reply on the issue tomorrow.
Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra today moved a privilege motion against Home secretary on the issue. While raising the issue in the Assembly during Zero Hour three days ago, Mishra had accused Chhuria of kidnapping a person and keeping him in confinement in her home during the recently concluded credit co-operative society elections in Bargarh district.
Meanwhile, State Congress leaders staged a protest over farmers’ issues by pouring paddy on the road at Lower PMG Square and tried to break police barricade.
In a letter to the members of the OLA, assembly secretary AK Sarangi informed them that the election for the post of speaker will be held at 3 PM on May 16.
Niranjan Pujari was made a minister in the Naveen Patnaik's council of ministers leading to vacancy of the Speaker's post.
Senior BJD leader Pradip Kumar Amat, who resigned as the Finance and Health minister on May 6, is likely to become Speaker of the OLA again.
The House supported the resolution moved by Agriculture Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathy and said the farmers should get appropriate price for paddy. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy had been only Rs 1470 per quintal which was much less than the input cost.
Maharathy said the state government had written three letters to the Centre seeking hike in the MSP to Rs 2500 per quintal. But, the central government fixed the MSP for paddy at Rs 1470 per quintal.
"The MSP being fixed by the Government of India is not commensurate with the rising cost of inputs such as seeds, fertiliser, manure, micro nutrient, irrigation charges and hiring of farm machinery for paddy being incurred by farmers in our state," Maharathy said.
Maharathy in his resolution wanted the MSP for paddy should be Rs 2500 per qunital. However, the price quoted by agriculture minister was not accepted by the government chief whip Ananta Das, who moved an amendment for making the MSP at Rs 2930 per quintal of paddy.
Das said the MSP for paddy should be Rs 2930 per quintal as the farmers have to spend Rs 2344 to produce one quintal of paddy. "Rs 2930 is perfect as it gives 25 per cent extra to farmers on their investment to produce one quintal of paddy," Das said.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress, however, said that the MSP for paddy should be Es 3516 per quintal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public meeting at Bargarh had promised to give one-and-half-times more to the farmers on their expenditure to produce food grains.
"Therefore, I have demanded that Rs 3516 should be the MSP per quintal of paddy in accodance to the Prime Minister's promise," Mishra said.
The agriculture minister, however, rejected Mishra's proposal on the grounds that the Centre would reject it because they (Centre) were reluctant to increase the MSP to Rs 2500 per quintal of paddy. Maharathy, however, said he supported the price quoted by the government chief whip.
Mishra volunteered to withdrew his amendment as he wanted a unanimity for adoption of the resolution.
Maharathy said a House Committee would be set up under the chairmanship of the Speaker to take up the matter with the Centre. The committee will meet the Prime Minister and put forth the MSP issue.
Earlier participating in the discussion, BJP member Rabinarayan Nayak criticised the state government for not fighting for the farmers who sustained loss for producing paddy. The BJP has demanded Rs 2800 as MSP per quintal of paddy.
The resolution was adopted after three hours of discussion on the minister's proposal. Both the opposition Congress and BJP had joined hands while demanding for adoption of a resolution on the MSP.
Speaker Niranjan Pujari had yesterday announced on holding a discussion on the government s resolution on MSP for paddy immediately after the question hour today.
"I realise that the Bargarh farmer's death is a fit case for investigation as raised by the Leader of Opposition and opposition members in the Assembly. Agriculture department comes under the purview of the Standing Committee-II," Pujari said in his ruling.
Stating that 12 members of the Standing Committee-II comprised MLAs from all parties, Pujari said "I hope the Committee impartially probe into the death of the farmer."
The Standing Committee-II is headed by senior BJD member Pramila Mallick and has three Congress MLAs and a BJP MLA as members. BJP state president Basant Kumar Panda is the lone member from the party in the Committee.
Pujari also said the Committee, after a detailed investigation into the matter, would submit its report in the House in the next session of the Assembly.
The Speaker's ruling came after Assembly proceedings were disrupted for six days with the opposition Congress and BJP members demanding a House Committee probe into the death of Hadu Bagarti and other farmers.
The Congress members also demanded suspension of Bargarh district Collector, who in an earlier report had claimed that Bagarti had committed suicide, but for some other reason which has no link with crop failure or debt burden.
The Congress had also served a privilege notice against state Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy accusing him of misleading the Assembly on the suicide of Hadu Bagarti.
"Action should be taken to punish the minister and the officials responsible for misleading the House and for breach of privilege," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said.
Also read: Uproar in Odisha Assembly on farmers' issues
Maharathy in a statement on March 4 had said the farmer had committed suicide after a dispute with his wife.
Bagarti had consumed pesticide on February 26 and subsequently died at a hospital on February 28. The minister has admitted that the farmer had incurred a loan of Rs 18,818 from the cooperative service society.
The wife of the deceased farmer had, however, denied any quarrel with her husband and claimed Bagarti committed suicide because of crop failure and loan burden.
As soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour, the agitating BJP members led by Rabi Naik stormed into the well of the House demanding constitution of a House Committee to probe the cases of farmer suicide.
The House could function only for two minutes before Pujari adjourned the proceedings for one hour till 11.32 am.
The scene was repeated when the House reassembled.
They resorted to shouting slogans near the Speaker s podium following which Pujari adjourned the House till 3 pm.
the same thing happened when the House reassembled at 3 pm and then the Speaker adjourned the House till 4 pm.
The House had been witnessing repeated adjournments for the last three days as the opposition BJP and Congress members continued to create pandemonium.
The leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress, however, held the Speaker responsible for the impasse and said that the Speaker did not take any decision on his party's privilege notice against Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy.
"The Speaker's silence over the privilege notice adds to the situation. We had served the privilege notice against the minister for misleading the House on the suicidal death of Hadu Bagarti, a farmer from Bargarh district," Mishra said.
The leader of Opposition also criticised the opposition BJP for creating pandemonium in the House leading to repeated adjournments.
Mishra claimed that after the death of Hadu Bagarti in Bargarh, at least four other such cases have been reported in the state. The government should take the farmers suicide issue seriously and the Speaker has a role to resolve the matter, he said.
Both the Congress and BJP have been demanding constitution of a House Committee to probe all farmer suicide cases.
The Congress has also demanded suspension of Bargarh District Collector who gave a report to the government without visiting the spot in case of Hadu Bagarti death case.
The BJP members stormed into the well of the House during the Zero Hour as soon as BJD MLA Mahesh Sahoo made the "derogatory" comments against Modi over his remarks on poverty in Odisha at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh some days ago.
"Odisha contributes about Rs 80,000 crore annually to the Centre. About 50 per cent of India gets electricity by using coal produced in the state. Still, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could dare to insult Odisha at a public meeting in UP," said Sahoo, a former BJP MLA and now a sitting BJD lawmaker.
As BJP MLAs strongly objected to the words used by Sahoo against the Prime Minister, Speaker Niranjan Pujari ordered expunction of the objectionable parts from Sahoo's statement.
When the House reassembled after the break, another BJD MLA, Samir Ranjan Dash, also made a similar statement against the Prime Minister, following which the already angry BJP members attempted to climb the Speaker's podium. "How can the BJD MLAs make such comments against a person who is not present in the House," asked BJP MLA Rabinarayan Naik.
Subsequently, the House was adjourned four more times as the BJP members continued to shout slogans in the Well of the House while some of them attempted to climb the Speaker's podium.
An all-party meeting held at the Speaker's chamber also failed to yield any result leading to adjournment of the House for the day.
Before the "derogatory" remarks against the Prime Minister, the BJP members had created a din during the Question Hour as well.
They rushed to the Well of the House protesting disciplinary action against 11 government staff by the Koraput Collector over grant of permission for landing of a helicopter used by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Borigumma in the district.
Kuchinda MLA Rabinarayan Naik tried to snatch Speaker Niranjan Pujari's mike. Amid the pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned it till 11.30 AM.
This was stated by BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo in a statement.
"We doubt a conspiracy has been hatched jointly by ruling BJD and opposition Congress to foil the session. Both the parties do not want discussion on issues affecting people," Singhdeo said.
The BJP members, who were unable to speak their point of view due to pandemonium, also suspect an understanding between the two parties. Singhdeo himself failed to speak twice yesterday on some issue as the House plunged into turmoil over distress sale of vegetables.
He also failed to speak today as the House was repeatedly adjourned due to ruckus.
While two days were lost due to disturbances created both by the ruling BJD members and Congress MLA over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged anti-Odisha remark at a rally in Uttar Pradesh, as many days including today had been spoiled due to uproar in House over a farmer suicide allegedly due to state government's inaction.
Singhdeo said the Congress leaders are rushing to the Well over stray matters and create disturbance in the House so that none can speak his mind in the floor of the assembly.
Noting that the BJP was trying to raise issues like outbreak of jaundice in Cuttack, poll violence during panchayat elections, farmers issues and others, Singhdeo said" "We have decided not to attend the all-party meeting being convened by the Speaker."
He said the happenings for last two days indicated that both the BJD and the Congress have hatched a conspiracy not to conduct any discussion in the assembly.
The Opposition legislators shouted slogans standing on their seats on the second day of the budget session. They demanded that the discussion be held immediately after cancelling the question hour. Unable to run the House, the Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the proceedings till 11.45 AM.
When the House reassembled, the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress said the Speaker should allow the debate as the violence of this nature was unheard of in Odisha. He alleged that the political activists of opposition parties were killed while police turned mute witnesses to such crimes.
BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo also wanted a debate on the matter and expressed apprehension that further violence could take place after results of the panchayat elections were officially announced.
When the results of the sarpanch, panchayat samiti members and ward members are announced today, the results of the Zilla Parishad, which were contested on party sysmbols, will be announced on February 25.
Singhdeo said a debate in the House could help reduce the clash and violence. However, government chief whip Ananta Das said that it was up to the Speaker to take a decision on the matter. "I think that Speaker will allow such a discussion after election results are announced," Das said adding that the ruling BJD was in favour of holding a discussion on the poll violence.
Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati said a bad precedent had been created in this panchayat polls. "There should be no place of violence in the peaceful state like Odisha," Bahinipati said adding that the one youth was killed in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Assembly segment. The miscreants killed the youth in the presence of police, Bahinipati alleged.
The ruling party members also alleged that their party activisits had been fallen prey to the poll violence. "Our party supported Sarpanch candidate has been arrested on flimsy ground," said BJD law maker Amar Prasad Satpathy.
However, Speaker Pujari did not say anything on whether to allow a discussion on the poll violence in the House.
Stating that the opposition cannot close its eyes and ears to what people write and talk, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress said the news report indicated how the Speaker rejected the demand for a debate on the chitfund issue.
This prompted them to bring the privilege motion, as for maintaining dignity of the House, the Speaker's role is important, the Opposition said.
"He should not only be impartial, but also should appear to be impartial," Mishra observed while reading out the contents of the news report directed at the Speaker.
Though the House was prohibited to discuss the chitfund issue, some ruling party members made certain remarks in this connection yesterday and despite being expunged by the Speaker, (the remarks) came up in some newspapers.
"Therefore, it appears that the BJD members can raise the chitfund issue in the assembly and not the opposition members," Mishra further said.
Speaker Pujari, however, said that he stands by his earlier ruling of not allowing a discussion on the chitfund issue as the matter is sub-judice. "There has been no violation of any rule or law by not allowing debate on the chitfund issue in the assembly. When a chargesheet is filed in the court of law, it is sub-judice," he said.
On the opposition's allegation that he continued to reserve the ruling on the use of Odia language in the Bills, Pujari said, "I will give a ruling at the proper time. It should not be whimsical or dictated by anyone. It will be a good ruling."
Mishra, however, said the opposition feels that withholding ruling for an indefinite period will not serve the purpose of raising the issue.
"If the ruling is given after transaction of all Bills in English language, it may not serve the purpose," he mentioned.
Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati also raised an issue stating that Speaker Pujari had been accused of signing a fake caste certificate in the past. "He (Speaker) should not chair the proceeding unless he is cleared of charges," Bahinipati said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister B K Aruk said that the Speaker has not signed in the said caste certificate. His signature might have been forged and an inquiry is on in this matter.
Pujari, however, clarified that no investigation is pending against him in case of the forged caste certificate issue.
While the Chief Minister has retained the Home, General Administration & Public Grievance departments, Niranjan Pujari has been given charge of the Finance and Excise departments.
Prafulla Kumar Mallik has been allocated Steel & Mines and Works department whereas Bikram Keshari Arukha has been given Forest & Environment and Parliamentary Affairs departments.
Tukuni Sahu, the lone woman minister in Naveen’s Council of ministers, has been allotted Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti departments.
Earlier in the day, Naveen and his team of ministers were administered oath by Governor Ganeshi Lal in Bhubaneswar.
Here’s the complete list of Council of ministers and their portfolios:
Chief Minister:
1. Naveen Patnaik -- Home, General Administration &
Public Grievance and any other Department specifically not assigned.
Cabinet Ministers:
1. Niranjan Pujari -- Finance, Excise.
2. Bikram Keshari Arukha -- Forest & Environment, Parliamentary Affairs.
3. Prafulla Kumar Mallik -- Steel & Mines, Works.
4. Ranendra Pratap Swain -- Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare, Co-operation.
5. Padmanabha Behera -- Planning & Convergence, Commerce & Transport.
6. Pratap Jena -- Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Law, Housing & Urban Development.
7. Arun Kumar Sahoo -- Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, Higher Education.
8. Sudam Marndi -- Revenue & Disaster Management
9. Susanta Singh. -- Rural Development, Labour & Employees’ State Insurance.
10. Naba Kisore Das -- Health & Family Welfare.
11. Tukuni Sahu -- Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti.
Ministers of State (Independent Charge):
1. Jagannath Sarka -- S.T. & S.C. Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare.
2. Dibya Shankar Mishra -- Energy; Industries; Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
3. Ashok Chandra Panda -- Science & Technology, Public Enterprises, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disability.
4. Samir Ranjan Das -- School & Mass Education.
5. Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi -- Tourism; Odia Language, Literature & Culture.
6. Premananda Nayak -- Skill Development & Technical Education.
7. Raghunandan Das -- Water Resources, Information & Public Relations.
8. Padmini Dian -- Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts.
9. Tusharkanti Behera -- Electronics & Information Technology, Sports & Youth Services.
Minister of State:
1. Prafulla Kumar Mallik -- Home.
Given the promises made have a huge financial implication, the most onerous responsibility therefore lies on the shoulders of new Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari.
Beset with dozens of yojanas coupled with the new promises made, it will be a tightrope walk for the FM. Not only he has to ensure proper fund allocation but also have to stick to the prudent fiscal management. As the State is now financing dozen yojanas via market borrowings, the loan portfolio of the State was on the ascent. Moreover, the issue of returning the deposited money to ponzi scam hit investors is still hanging over. So, all eyes are now set on Pujari's budget.
For Pujari, the road ahead looks more arduous with the CM vesting the reins of Excise Department also on him. The big challenge staring at the Excise Department is how to prevent the proliferation of the illicit liquor business in the State.
Similarly, with KALIA scheme proving a game changer this elections, the new agriculture minister Arun Sahoo has a task at his hand. During every poll campaign, CM Naveen Patnaik kept harping on extending the KALIA outreach to 33 lakh more farmer households. The major challenge for the minister is to meet the CM's expectations on KALIA promise, in addition to addressing the ills plaguing the farm sector in the State.
Odisha scored poor nationally in provisioning piped drinking water. BJD has made a promise to provision clean drinking water to every household by 2024. For the new Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Pratap Jena, meeting the deadline is a big challenge. Besides, implementation of Ama Gaon, Ama Bikas and ending PC culture will test his mettle in coming days.
As Jena also holds additional charge of Urban Development Department and Law Department, solving the perennial problem of water logging in towns in the State and ensuring a smooth Rath Yatra are the major challenges ahead. The urban polls in the State are slated to be held later this year.
For the Women and Child Development Minister Tukuni Sahu, who makes her maiden entry as minister, augmenting the capacity of SHGs in the State is a major task at hand. In order to boost the capacity, BJD has promised to disburse interest-free loan worth Rs 5lakh to SHGs, make them procure paddy efficiently and involve them in supplying school uniform to children.
The challenges are galore for the Energy and MoS Home, Dibya Shankar Mishra. Right from ensuring safety to girl children and women, when rising gang rapes bring bad name to the Government, to creating more job opportunities in industries and addressing the issues plaguing State's energy sector, especially when the energy infra took a beating post Fani, his hands are full.
In the interim budget prior to the polls, the government had presented over Rs 1.32 lakh crore-budget for 2019-20. However, whether revenue will keep pace with the expenditure is something that is keeping everyone worried.
Even though revenue from GST and mining has increased, it doesn’t seem enough to cover the expenditure for schemes rolled out ahead of the polls. The annual commercial tax revenue generated from GST goods increased to Rs 10,280.82 crore in 2018-19 from Rs 6127.27 crore in 2017-18. Similarly, revenue from mining was Rs 1546 crore in first 3 months of the last year and this year, it has increased to Rs 2106 crore.
Finance Secretary Ashok Meena said, “We are aware that the State was majorly affected by the cyclone which will impact the budget, so we don’t want to buy any resources.”
For KALIA scheme, the State government has allocated Rs 4,461 crore, out of which Rs 2,200 crore has already been disbursed. But the State government is expected to face a major challenge to arrange funds for Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), PEETHA scheme, Rs 1 rice scheme, Mission Shakti, Madhu Babu Pension scheme, potable water scheme Basudha and farm loan waiver.
While the current debt burden is at Rs 87,000 crore, by 2020 March, it is expected to cross Rs 1,03,000 crore.
“What they have announced, they won’t be able to fulfil. In comparison to last year, revenue will decline,” said former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo.
BJP leader Biswabhushan Harichandan said, “This government has made allocations without any proper planning and ultimately they are going to put the State under a huge burden.”
In response, ruling-BJD vice-president Prafulla Chandra Ghadei said, “The government has taken loans within its limits.”
A check-out out here looks all the more imperative because, Odisha had fared poorest among the 19 major States in spending on education vis-a-vis the total budgeted expenditure.
As per an analysis of the budget data available, the expenditure on education in proportion to the total budget spending for the period of 2016-19 was around 14 per cent. The expenditure proportion for the successive years {2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 (interim)} was 15.5 per cent, 14.8 per cent and around 15.08 per cent, respectively.
Even, the proportion of edu spending to total expenditure by backward States like Bihar and Chhattisgarh in 2018-19 was 18.9 and 18.2 per cent, respectively.
As per the RBI data, the average expenditure on education in proportion to the total budgeted expenditure by major 19 States was 16.1 per cent for the period 2016-19.
A look at the RBI data revealed that the proportion of edu to total spending in Odisha had nosedived post 2000-01 and continued till 2008-09. After a brief rise in 2009-11, the edu spending was again on the downslide till the year 2018-19.
In the Interim Budget 2019-20, the total allocation provisioned was Rs 19, 911 crore. While the allocation for School and Mass Education sector was Rs 16,400 crore, the Higher Education Department was allocated Rs 2,375 crore.
However, the administrative expenditure accounted for around 60 per cent of the total education expenditure in the State.
The worry is such a high proportion of administrative expenditure will in no way add to the quality of education services in the State.
And the result is simply disastrous. A whopping 78 per cent elementary schools in Odisha are without electricity connection. Despite so, during the period 2016-19, not a single school was brought into the loop of electricity connection.
The contrast on other hand is, nationally, a high of 61 per cent elementary schools have the privilege of power connection.
Similarly, In comparison to nearly 90 per cent electrification of secondary schools nationally, it is only 70 per cent in Odisha. The proportion in higher secondary stood at 93 per cent to 87 per cent.
Teacher vacancies: Though there is no teacher vacancy in elementary schools thank to Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan, the teacher vacancies in
class 9th and 10th were at a high of 1,033. As per Rashtriya Madhyamik Shikshya Abhiyan (RMSA) for secondary schools, the total teacher and headmaster vacancies in State's secondary schools were at a whopping 4,919 in 2017-18.
The RMSA data shows Odisha is 5th in teacher vacancy and 6th in Principal vacancies in the country.
A day after senior BJD leader and Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari trained his guns at MLA Pradeep Maharathy over defunct cold storages and agriculture in the State, Maharathy today responded and launched a scathing attack at the former in his own style.
Maharathy said, “It was during my tenure that a lot of cold storages were established. Nobody can question my dedication and efficiency. Whatever Niranjan Pujari said yesterday has hurt me the most in my 40-year political career and I have not taken food since yesterday."
He further demanded that whatever Pujari said in Assembly should not go on record. In his response, Speaker SN Patro said the matter will be reviewed and if at all there is something objectionable, it will not be recorded in the House proceedings.
However, the BJP members demanded that nothing should be dropped from records.
Earlier, Pujari while responding to the queries on behalf of Food Supplies Minister Ranendra Swain, took a jibe and said Maharathy has a doctorate in Agriculture department. During Maharathy’s tenure as Agriculture Minister the potato mission was launched and then shut down.
Amidst the ongoing war of words between two party leaders, government chief whip Pramila Mallick today took a dig at Maharathy by stating that, “Pradeep Maharathy is a Jatra actor and it is his style of talking. We should not take him seriously.”
Malick further said that,” Maharathy is a diabetic and how can he come to the House without food.”
Responding to Malick, Maharathy said, “She (Malick) is my elder sister. But I don’t know when she studied medicine.”
Govt chief whip Pramila Mallick says, ‘Pradeep Maharathy is diabetic and he would not have skipped food. He is acting just like a jatra artist’
Pradeep Maharathy responds, ‘When did she (Mallick) study medicine?’ pic.twitter.com/ww7LesNdST
— OTV (@otvnews) July 18, 2019
Launched with much fanfare, the State Potato Mission, which even elicited praise from CM Naveen Patnaik, has not only had a stuttered implementation since its birth but was finally dropped like a hot potato by the State Government.
And the 'small potato' talk over the State Potato Mission between State Finance minister Niranjan Pujari and former Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy recently in State Assembly tells a grim tale about the governance model in the State.
The then Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy made the mega launch of Rs 267 crore worth State Potato Mission with an ambitious talk of making Odisha self sufficient in potato production. The Mission had set a production target of 11.2 Lakh Tonnes (LT) by 2017-18 from 2 LT in 2015-16.
Sample the failings. As per a statement laid in the House yesterday, the potato production in the State in 2018-19 stood at a measly 2.94LT. In contrast the demand of the tuber in the State has been estimated at a massive 12.7LT. The cipher show of the State Potato Mission is the production of the tuber in the period of 2015-16 to 2018-19 grew by mere 94,000 tonnes vis-a-vis the target of 3.4LT per year.
Why the tuber production target crashed? It is so because farmers got a raw deal in value realisation. Under the Mission, in the first year farmers bought quality Gujarati variety tuber seeds from district agriculture centres at Rs 35-40 per kg. Farmers need around 2,500 kg tuber seeds to cultivate potato in one hectare land. The expenses towards the seeds they then incurred were a high of around Rs 1 lakh/ha. With the productivity of potato per hectare has been around 12 tonnes or 12,000 kg, a farmer had spent Rs 8 towards seed for every one kg potato produced.
But lack of cold storages and high production across the nation, the potato prices crashed in the State. Significantly, after much criticism, the State Government then had decided to procure potato from farmers at Rs 6/kilo, when the seed expenses alone were Rs 8/kilo.
Red faced over huge loss, the farmers abandoned potato cultivation in the very next farm season.
The gaping hole in the State Potato Mission is, it never was conceived as a holistic mission - that covers market input, market support for tuber cultivators. Moreover, without putting in place the necessary cold chain infra, the Agriculture Department jumped into ramping up production. As the Mission has failed to put in place forward and backward linkage for the tuber growers, the Mission stuttered only to halt just after a year.
However, the State Government has erred again when instead of bringing in remedial measures to put the Mission back in track, the State Finance minister Niranjan Pujari did a trifle talk over the State Potato Mission by stating in Assembly that "The Potato Mission started and ended with Maharathy's tenure."
The bottomline: Odisha imports a colossal 10 LT tuber per year from states like West Bengal, UP, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Odisha farmers stand losers again.
This was stated by Finance minister Niranjan Pujari while replying to a written question of ruling BJD member Prafulla Samal in the Assembly.
Pujari said the tax revenue collection till June 2019 was Rs 6,943 crore while the non-tax revenue collection was Rs 3,484 crore. "The state government has set a target for collection of Rs 45,500 crore in 2019-20," the minister added.
He said the state's own tax collection amount has been fixed at Rs 33,000 crore while the non-tax revenue to be Rs 12,500 crore during the 2019-20 fiscal.
The minister also said that the expenditure outlay towards the disbursement of salary, allowance, pension and office management during this fiscal has been pegged at Rs 44,613 crore as against Rs 39,936 crore during the corresponding period in 2018-19 fiscal.
This was stated by Excise minister Niranjan Pujari while replying to a question of BJP member Mohan Majhi in the Assembly.
"The government has so far not accepted the recommendation of the standing committee report for opening more IMFL shops and rewarding licensed traders," he said.
The panel, which is headed by BJD MLA Subrat Tarai, sought more IMFL off shops to generate more revenue and to check illegal trafficking of spurious liquor.
The committee said the traders who meet the minimum guaranteed quantity (MGQ) fixed for the shop and cross it substantially, should be rewarded appropriately
Expressing concern over the its report, the members cutting across party lines said rewarding licensed liquor traders will encourage alcohol consumption in the state.
BJD member S R Patnaik said since the party has been able to return to power five times in a row on the strength of women voters and excise policy should be made keeping in view of the sentiments of the women.
Patnaik said state government should consider cost analysis of liquor circulation in the state. "Though the state is earning a good amount of revenue from excise, it should also consider the losses due to accidents, family disputes, crimes and other by consumption of liquor," he said.
Majhi criticised the state government's excise policy and said the state should take measures to control the alcohol consumption in Odisha.
The minister, however, said the government's priority is to check circulation of adulterated liquor.
"The government ensures availability of quality, safe liquor to habitual alcohol consumers at proper price in licensed shops," the minister said.
The minister also informed the House regarding steps taken to curb liquor menace, while replying another question of BJD's P K Deb.
He said no new 'OFF' liquor shops is being sanctioned in the state.
Pujari said the Excise department's revenue collection has increased from Rs 849 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 3,925 crore in 2018-19.
This time in 2019-20, the revenue collection target has been fixed at Rs 4,600 crore keeping in view the rising trend of consumption of different beverages such as India-made foreign liquor (IMFL), beer and country spirit in the state.
On July 22, while replying to a query made by Opposition chief whip and Keonjhar BJP MLA Mohan Majhi in the House, Pujari said that no liquor shop has been opened in the State since 2006.
The Sambalpur MLA raised an objection to this minister’s reply in the House today and said if the matter is referred to the privilege committee, he will give a detailed data on how many liquor shops have opened in the State in the last 12 years.
“For presenting wrong statement in the House, I have moved the privilege notice as per Rule 140 of the State Assembly,” Mishra said.
Comments from the Minister on the privilege motion moved against him could not be obtained.
Pujari said this in the Assembly while replying a question of BJD member Ashwini Kumar Patra. He said though the 14th Finance Commission had recommended that the sharing pattern between the Centre and the state will be 90:10 ratio while sanctioning funds under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), but the Centre has not being following the guideline.
As a result Odisha has received Rs 266 crore less under the SDRF as the Centre adopted 75:25 ratio instead of 14th FC's recommendation of 90:10 share ratio, he said.
"We have strongly protested this act of the Centre and demanded sanction of remaining Rs 266 crore to the state," Pujari said.
The Odisha Finance minister said though the 14th FC said that the share between the Centre and states will be 90:10 ratio, the Centre in its explanatory memorandum said that the previous sharing pattern of 75:25 ratio will continue till implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST).
The Centre will follow the 14th FC's recommendation only after implementation of the GST, the memorandum said.
"Meanwhile, the GST has been implemented since July 2017. Therefore, the Centre sanctioned the funds under SDRF at the sharing pattern of 90:10 for the 2018-19 fiscal. However, later they (Centre) deducted the amount after making a calculation on the sharing pattern of 75:25 ratio," Pujari said, claiming that the state has lost Rs 266 crore.
The state government drew attention of the Centre and wanted to know the reason behind making calculation on 75:25 ratio even after implementation of the GST, Pujari said.
"The Ministry of Finance in a reply letter dated July 11, 2018 said that the 75:25 ratio will continue till GST is stabilised," he said.
However, Pujari pointed out that there was no mention of "GST stabilisation" in the FC's recommendation which was presented in the Parliament. "There was no mention of GST stabilisation in the FC's recommendation. However, it was said that the 90:10 ratio will be given after implementation of the GST," he said.
Pujari said the state government has raised this issue in different forums like Inter-State Council, NITI Aayog and the Central government's pre-budget discussion.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Finance minister said the state has also received less Central assistance of Rs 17,299 crore than the approved amount during the last four fiscal from 2015-16 to 2018-19 towards state's share in the central taxes.
The finance minister said the 14th Finance Commission had recommended Rs 1,84,070crore to Odisha as its share from the central tax between 2015-16 and 2019-20. The state's share was Rs 1,35,820crore in four fiscal from 2015-16 to 2018-19.
"However, we have so far received only Rs 1,18,521crore, which is Rs 17,299 crore less," Pujari said.
He further pointed out that though it has been recommended to sanction Rs 48,250 crore as the state's share in the Central taxes in 2019-20 fiscal, the Centre in its budget has estimated only Rs 37,560 crore, which is again less by Rs 10,690 crore than the recommended amount.
Responding to BJP MLA Nityananda Gond, Pujari stated "As there is no ban on the sale of liquor in neighbouring States, it might encourage inflow of liquor to Odisha illegally. There is every possibility of a rise in sale of illicit liquor and liquor traders might exploit such situation."
Meanwhile, members of both ruling and opposition parties expressed concerns over illegal sale of country-made liquor, opening of multiple liquor shops on single licence, adulteration of liquor and sale at a price higher than MRP.
Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari, however, stated that multi-disciplinary squad headed by Collectors has been formed in each district to check such issues and conduct regular enforcement activities.
Thousands of #Rourkela residents form human chain to unfurl a 17-km-long National Flag at Ring Road of the Steel City on #IndependenceDay; the organiser ‘Smile Forever’ is aiming to register the feat in Guinness Book of World Record
(Deferred visual) pic.twitter.com/PtP7NQd60e
— OTV (@otvnews) August 15, 2019
In a similar display, students of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack celebrated I-Day by marching inside the varsity premises with a 450 ft-long Tricolour flag. In Hinjilicut of Ganjam district, the Press Computer Academy along with hundreds of locals marched in the town with a 200-mt long national flag.
Students of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack celebrate #IndependenceDay by marching with a 450-feet-long Tricolour #Odisha pic.twitter.com/OwuipQB7Yk
— OTV (@otvnews) August 15, 2019
Meanwhile, colourful parades marked the India I-Day celebrations in different parts of Odisha. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unfurled the National Flag during State-level Independence Day celebrations at Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar. Extensive arrangements were put in place at the new venue while thousands gathered to witness the I-Day celebrations and salutations by contingents of Odisha Police, CISF, 120 Infantry Battalion and Telangana Police.
In his address, the CM paid tributes to freedom fighters and said that his government works on the principle of 5T (Teamwork, Technology, Transparency, Transformation and Time Limit) and is focused on welfare of the people of Odisha.
Similarly, Odisha Finance & Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari unfurled the tricolour at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Here, Odisha Police, Commissionerate Police, Fire Services, and students of various schools and colleges participated in the ceremonial I-Day parade.
Steel and Mines Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mallick hoisted the flag at the district-level Independence day celebrations in Puri, while State Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra graced the I-day function organised in Court chhak of Sambalpur.
Colourful parades mark #IndependenceDay celebrations in different parts of #Odisha pic.twitter.com/Rire6hjvC9
— OTV (@otvnews) August 15, 2019
It is pertinent to note that the excise department had earlier shot letters to Collectors of all districts to grant temporary licence to allow sale of intoxicants in various fairs, private and public events and other regimental camps. This apart, the department had asked the officials of excise stations to come up with proposals for opening of new IMFL off-shops.
Condemning this, the anti-liquor campaign led by the Nisa Nibaran outfit today gheraoed the residence of the Minister and staged a peaceful demonstration as a mark of protest against the State government's decision to promote alcohol business by opening more liquor outlets in Odisha.
However, the outfit later called off agitation and decided to defer the strike till November 22 following a discussion with the Minister.
"The Minister has assured that the orders to grant licence and opening of new liquor outlets would be revoked by November 23. We have given an ultimatum to the government on this. Protests will intensify if the government does not reconsider its decision," said a member of the outfit.
Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari said, "The discussion was fruitful. The outfit has been demanding to cancel the orders allowing sale and consumption of liquor in marriage functions and other socio-cultural events. Since years, grant of temporary licence for such events has been included in the policy. And it's granted in rarest of the rare occasions. I have assured that the government will reconsider their demands while formulating new excise policy in February next year."
The supplementary budget was passed in the voice vote allowing the state government to spend Rs 8,126.32 crore from the consolidated fund.
With the passage of the supplementary statement of expenditure in the House, the total budget size of the state for 2019-20 increased to Rs 1.47 lakh crore.
The supplementary provision was made in addition to the Rs 1.39 lakh crore budget for 2019-20 fiscal, which was presented in the assembly on June 28, said Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari.
He said while Rs 267.23 crore has been allocated to meet administrative expenses, Rs 7,432.80 crore is meant for programme expenditure, Rs 6.52 crore for disaster response fund and Rs 419.78 crore towards transfer from the state.
A maze of numbers are thrown out. Budget 2020-21 gives one number, Agriculture department rolls out another. Amidst the lingering haze, the news tumbled out is fake KALIA beneficiaries number now touched 45,965 from 32,000 in 2019.
A fact-check reveals some big details. Consider this. PM-KISAN, which completed its first anniversary today, has seen transfer of KISAN money to 36.286 lakh farmers in Odisha as on February 2020.
In contrast, the confusion persists over KALIA beneficiaries.
Sample this. When Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari during budget 2020-21 presentation put the KALIA beneficiary numbers at 43 lakh, in September 2019, Odisha Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo had said in State Assembly that 51lakh farmers have been covered under the scheme.
Significantly, CM Naveen Patnaik himself had gone to the town during the elections declaring that KALIA scheme will embrace 25 lakh more beneficiaries to take the total beneficiaries to a massive 75 lakh.
Now, the fact-check. As per the Agriculture Census 2015-16, the number of agriculture operational land holdings in Odisha was estimated at 48.66 lakh. As KALIA scheme provides income support to cultivators, the Census 2011 data puts the number at 42.48 lakh.
What is operational land holdings? All land, which is used wholly or partly for agricultural production and is operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others without regard to title, legal form, size or location. This definition includes cultivators like share-croppers.
Since PM-KISAN adopts the number of operational farm land holdings to implement the scheme nationally, the number of KALIA eligible farmers in Odisha couldn't be more than 48.04 lakh.
The number of 48.04 lakh reveals that when PM-KISAN in Odisha is yet to cover nearly 12lakh eligible farmers; Naveen-led BJD government's KALIA scheme is yet to cover nearly 5 lakh eligible farmers, if one accepts the number of 43 lakh beneficiaries given by FM Niranjan Pujari during Budget 2020-21 presentation.
Interestingly, when Agri Min Sahoo had said in 2019 that some 3.41 lakh ineligible beneficiaries have availed the KALIA scheme, he then had put the total beneficiary numbers at over 51 lakh.
Coincidentally, Agri Minister's assertion seems bang on the truth, because the difference between Agriculture Census numbers and 51 lakh beneficiaries boil down to nearly the 3.41 lakh fake beneficiaries, though the Agriculture Department later clarified the fake numbers as 32,000 post huge uproar.
Since Budget document is more sacrosanct in parliamentary democracy, FM Pujari's statement shows a massive 5 lakh marginal, small and semi-medium farmers in Odisha are yet to be brought under Naveen's game-changer KALIA scheme.
"Various funds related to the temple i.e. Foundation Fund, Corpus Fund and Temple Fund are being managed by the Managing Committee. Out of these funds, an amount of Rs 545 crore has been deposited with Yes Bank, Puri in shape of TDRs," said Pujari in a letter to the Union Finance Minister.
Pujari said these deposits are maturing in March, 2020.
"In the meantime, Yes Bank Ltd has been placed under moratorium by RBI and certain restrictions have been imposed by RBI for withdrawal of funds from Yes Bank," said Pujari.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is a statutory authority working under provisions of an Act of the state government. This is an issue of religious importance for devotees, the state Finance Minister said.
Since the RBI imposed a moratorium on the cash-starved Yes Bank and capped withdrawals at Rs 50,000, the opposition parties in the state have been targeting the state government over its decision to park the huge sum of money in a private bank instead of a nationalised bank.
(IANS)
The Odisha government demanded Rs 7,200 crore in the railway sector and Rs 5,650 crore in the telecom sector in the forthcoming Union Budget for 2021-22.
He demanded to make provision of at least Rs 7,200 crore for railway infrastructure in Odisha for the on-going projects, sanctioning of new line, station modernisation, establishment of rail based industries, and multi-modal logistics parks.
Pujari also demanded allocation of Rs 5,650 crore in the telecom sector for Odisha.
He sought amendment of sub-section (3) of Section 8 of Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 to prohibit misuse of 'C' Forms by the manufacturers, mining contractors and works contractors for interstate purchase of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) paying CST at 2 per cent.
The Minister said there should be the provision of sufficient funds for development and maintenance of National Highways, addressing power sector issues, and adequate provision for piped drinking water.
He said the Centre should consultation with the state governments before taking any major policy decisions that affect sub-national finances.
The Minister demanded to allow states to operate the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) directly instead of opening separate scheme based bank account, advance indication on Central assistance for CSS and release of funds as per commitment and sharing pattern in CSS for Odisha at par with North-Eastern and Himalayan states.
ଆଜି ମାନ୍ୟବର କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଅର୍ଥମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ନିର୍ମଳା ସୀତାରାମନ୍ ସମସ୍ତ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଅର୍ଥମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ପ୍ରାକ୍ ବଜେଟ୍ ଆଲୋଚନା କରିଥିଲେ। ଏଥିରେ ଓଡିଶାର ଅର୍ଥମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ନିରଞ୍ଜନ ପୂଜାରୀ ଅଂଶଗ୍ରହଣ କରି ରାଜ୍ୟ ତରଫରୁ କେତେକ ଦାବି ଉପସ୍ଥାପନ କରିଛନ୍ତି: pic.twitter.com/5GE2v808I6
— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) January 18, 2021
(With IANS Inputs)
The State demanded Rs 72,000 crore for the development of Railway infrastructure in Odisha and sanctioning of new railway lines.
Taking part in the pre-budget consultation meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Odisha Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said that adequate budget provision should also be made for station modernisation, establishment of rail-based industries and multi-modal logistics and parks in State.
Odisha government has also demanded Rs 5,600 crore to strengthen the telecom sector. The State's demands also include opening of bank branches in every panchayat to enhance financial inclusion of rural people.
To develop the National Highways and ensure piped drinking water to every household, the State Finance Minister has also sought sufficient funds provision in the Union Budget.
The State also reiterated its demand to make 90: 10 as fund sharing pattern under centrally sponsored schemes like North-Eastern and Himalayan States. Currently Odisha shares 40% of funds in most of the centrally sponsored schemes.
Highly placed sources in the State Finance department disclosed that Odisha had seen a sharp slowdown in the Gross State Value Added (GSVA) this year (2020-21). Moreover, the precarious state of affairs is when the tax receipts recorded negative growth, the subsidies have grown higher.
For which, as against the projected GSDP growth rate of 7 per cent for the fiscal year 2021, the real GSDP growth is likely to hover between (-) 6 per cent to (+)1.8 per cent, sources informed.
TAXING TIMES
As per the official data available till January end, while the total GST revenue mobilised by the State recorded a negative growth to the tune of around 6 per cent to touch Rs 10,124 crore, the collections from VAT and CST together had clocked (-) 5 per cent to a total amount of Rs 5,363 cr.
It is for the buoyancy in professional tax collections that the overall total tax receipts till January end couldn’t see a yawning dip this fiscal. The total tax collections clocked only a minus five per cent growth amounting to Rs 15,825 cr.
The excise revenue had also taken a severe beating. The mobilisations are down by over 36 per cent.
However, in the non-tax front, the scenario is not bad. Mining revenue is up by around 10 per cent. The State Finance minister can also rely on the good growth in dividends and profits from State PSUs, data revealed.
THE GROSS PICTURE
Despite the State’s overall own revenue is poised to post a positive growth of around 4 per cent, thanks to the vibrancy witnessed in the non-tax revenue mobilisation, the Gross State Value Added (GSVA) is projected to contract this fiscal, except for the agriculture sector.
“Due to pandemic, the services sector in the State had contracted badly. Except for electricity production, water supply and mining, the sectors like manufacturing and construction have charted a negative growth rate in the range of 11 to 5 per cent. As a consequence, the GSVA is projected to clock a negative eight per cent growth in the fiscal year 2020-21,” the sources informed.
The gross picture for the State is when both the tax revenue receipts and production of goods and services have recorded negative growth, and in contrast, the overall subsidies had posted a record growth of around 17 per cent due to pandemic exigencies, the double whammy will definitely pare down the GSDP projections for the year 2020-21, the sources added.
THE FM SPEAK
However, speaking exclusively to odishatv.in, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said,
“There is a practice of secrecy in budget making. I cannot comment on any aspect of the budget before tabling it in the august house. We will discuss the threadbare in the post-budget press conference on February 22.”
This is so when the Union Budget in Parliament is being tabled on the floor of the Lok Sabha at 11 am since the year 1999.
Even, many progressive states in India like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have been presenting their budgets at 11 am in the morning like the Union Budget. But the ancient and hoary state of Kalinga takes pride in the British tradition.
WHEN BUDGET TIMING CHANGED TO 11 AM?
In the year 1999, for the first time in the country’s budgetary history, the Union Budget was tabled in the Lok Sabha at 11 am by the then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.
In contrast, the practice of tabling the Union Budget in Lok Sabha had been at 5 pm in the evening since independence.
Moreover, the tradition was budget used to be presented on the last working day of February, therefore, the Union Budget was presented on Feb 28 till the year 2016.
HOW THE BUDGET TIMING CHANGED?
January 1999: The then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Finance Secretary Vijay Kelkar and senior Finance Ministry official D Swarup (who was part of the budget-making team for long years) decided to change this pre-independence practice of tabling Union Budget in the evening at 5 pm.
Reason Cited For Change: Since the budget presentation will shift to before noon hours, the rationale of the then budget-making team was it will give an opportunity to all economists, commerce bodies and economic institutes to undertake a better analysis of the budget numbers.
Post the decision taken in the Finance ministry, then FM Yashwant Sinha requested the Lok Sabha speaker, Rajya Sabha Vice – Chairman and then PM Atal Behari Vajpayee to allow him to present the budget at 11 am against the customary presentation at 5 pm in the evening.
The request was noted and finally, Yashwant Sinha became the first Finance Minister to present the Union Budget at 11 am on Feb 27 (the last working day of Feb).
WHY BUDGET TABLED AT 5 PM IN EVENING?
Presentation of the budget in the evening was a tradition started in the British Raj.
During the British regime, since the members of Britain's Parliament - 'House of Commons' and 'House of Lords' - listen to India's budget, the budget speech was used to deliver at five in the evening.
THE BIG REASON: It is due to the time zone gap between New Delhi and Westminster, UK.
Since the Indian Standard Time is 5 hrs 30 minutes ahead of the Greenwich Meridian Time, when the clock in India struck the 5 hours in the evening, the Britain clock will show 11 am daytime.
As the MPs in the British Parliament will listen to the budget delivery in Indian Parliament, therefore the time was fixed at 5 pm in the evening.
ANOTHER FACT: It is said that as equity markets in Britain used to open at 11 am (British Standard Time), so the budget in India was presented in the evening.
But the tradition continued even after independence in India, despite no such compulsions.
BOTTOMLINE: Since the Union budget and budget in many State Assemblies are being presented now at 11 am, Odisha can also change its budget presentation time.
However, as per highly placed sources in Assembly Secretariat, there is no unanimity between the political parties in the State. A proposal to this effect in 1999 was rejected by the ruling party then.
“In the later years, the BJD government, despite in the NDA, didn’t work hard to have a consensus on changing this customary timing of budget presentation in Odisha. Now, no political party, except BJP, is in favour of changing the budget presentation timing in the State,” said the sources.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toXC-ogbqQM
Despite the State Agriculture sector in the State having been contracted by a massive 6.54 per cent in the current financial year of 2020-21, the allocation for the year 2021-22 saw a big slashing by over 9 per cent to amount at Rs 17,468 crore.
While the allocation under the State government’s much-touted KALIA scheme pruned for the second consecutive year by a massive over 43 per cent to a total of Rs 1,800 crore for 2021-22, there seems to be no quantum hike in the outlays for other farming schemes.
Consider the hard numbers:
However, the only hefty allocation made in the budget has been Rs 450 crore for the centrally sponsored scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY).
Lone Bright Spot: A total hike of Rs 128 crore proposed for subsidy on capital investment for the establishment of commercial agri-enterprises and for the popularization of agricultural implements and diesel pump sets.
WHAT IS MISSING IN BUDGET?
In Odisha, farmers are saddled with getting marginal net returns on their agri produces. And for that, they need an increase in capacity of warehousing facilities, crop diversification and steps to boost the yield per hectare.
But the budget didn’t provide any investment roadmap for augmenting the most essentials like warehousing, crop diversification and crop productivity in the State.
The Bottom Line: The budget has apparently failed to boost investment in the farm sector in Odisha, which has borne the pandemic shock quite acutely.
Moreover, the irrigation budget carries an imprint of ‘Made for Western Odisha’.
A detailed glance at the allocations reveal that outlays made under different irrigation schemes in this budget lacks a holistic approach.
Consider the details that bring out the devil.
While the total allocation made under various irrigation schemes and projects in Budget 2021-22 totalled a number of Rs 6,365 crore (as per FM Pujari’s Budget Speech document), the amount allocated last year (2020-21) stood at Rs 6,540 crore.
Sample The Ups And Downs in Allocations
Big Takeaway: The AIBP outlay saw the biggest spike as the progress of projects taken under the central scheme had been very lackadaisical in the State. Moreover, when the last budget carried a balanced approach in giving a boost to the irrigation infra in the State, the same intent is thoroughly lacking in this budget, which is evident from the allocations made.
Also Read:A Social Hit But Flops in Job creation, Growth
Though Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari may win plaudits from some fiscal experts for sticking to the FRBM norms, when job losses are high and contraction is ruling the State economy, the shocker delivered by the budget is a massive cut of Rs 725 crore has been effected in the all-important growth chip -the capital outlay.
Another thumb down in the budget has been a meagre rise in programme expenditure by Rs 1000 crore to a total of Rs 75,000 crore. In contrast, the administrative expenditure clocked a whopping 30 per cent to touch Rs 85,000 crore in 2021-22.
Why The FM Remained Stuck To FRBM?
A detailed glance at the budget document reveals the compulsion behind FM Niranjan Pujari faithfully sticking to the FRBM virtue.
♠When the State’s own revenue is projected to touch Rs 57,500 crore, the Central transfer and grants amount to Rs 68,100 crore in 2021-22.
♠Since the own revenue source for the State is very limited, in order to spend big, Odisha has to borrow more.
♠The gross borrowings for the State have grown 61 per cent to touch Rs 43,986 crore. The debt stock of Odisha is estimated at 20.9 per cent of the GSDP. The FRBM has mandated that debt stock should be within 25 per cent of GSDP.
♠The gross borrowings are projected to remain at around Rs 43,861 crore even by the end of the fiscal year 2023-24.
♠ The Budget estimates for the year 2021-22 show that State’s own tax revenue will be Rs 37,500cr against the BE of Rs 38,350 cr in 2020-21.
♠ It is this ballooning of borrowing that has forced the State FM to adopt the FRBM virtue.
♠The projection of a revenue surplus of Rs 6,032 cr for the fiscal year 2021-22 has been accomplished by a cut on the expenditure side.
SOCIAL ALLOCATIONS