Bihar govt's claim that state's economic growth higher than national average is misleading: Panda

There are several other states which are ahead of Bihar, Panda said.He denied that allegations of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar that the Centre has reduced allocation of funds to the state government in the next financial year.Panda said, Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech for the year 2023-24 said that the Centre will continue its 50-year interest-free loans to state governments in order to aid infrastructure investment with an outlay of Rs 1.3 lakh crore.

BJP national vice president Baijayant Jay Panda on Sunday termed as ''misleading'' the Nitish Kumar government's claim that Bihar's growth rate is higher than the national average.

Panda said there are several states that are much ahead of Bihar.

The senior BJP leader denied the allegations of the Nitish Kumar government that the Centre has reduced allocation of funds to the state and instead claimed that the state government has been unable to properly utilise central funds.

Interacting with media persons here, Panda said, ''Several development works have been hampered in Bihar due to negligence of the state government which has been unable to spend funds properly, especially the Central funds.'' ''The central government has been releasing funds for various development activities, but Bihar government has not been able to spend it. The Bihar government's claim that the state's economic growth rate is higher than the national average is misleading. There are several other states which are ahead of Bihar'', Panda said.

He denied that allegations of the 'Mahagathbandhan' government in Bihar that the Centre has reduced allocation of funds to the state government in the next financial year.

Panda said, ''Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech for the year 2023-24 said that the Centre will continue its 50-year interest-free loans to state governments in order to aid infrastructure investment with an outlay of Rs 1.3 lakh crore. Amounts of Rs 11,830 crore and Rs 14,186 crore were provided to states in FY21 and FY22 as 50-year interest-free loans under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment. During FY23, the allocation was raised to Rs 1.05 lakh crore to give an additional impetus to capex plans by states. Therefore, such claims are baseless''.

''Bihar government failed to utilise Rs 12,000 crore under the 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal Yojana' scheme. Despite Centre's repeated reminders, the Bihar government has so far not been able to provide land for setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga and opening of Rs 600 crore IT park in the state. So, who is creating obstacles in the development of Bihar? It is the Nitish Kumar government that is least bothered about the development of Bihar'', said Panda.

When asked about the allegations levelled by Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary that the Central government has substantially reduced Centre's fund under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the state, the BJP leader said, ''I once again reject this claim of the state government. Around 15.79 lakh houses have been constructed in Bihar under PMAY in the last few years''.

Describing the Union Budget as ''all-inclusive and a historic one'' that will lend a new pace and energy to India's growth, Panda said, ''The budget has established a strong base to fulfil the aspirations and resolutions of a developed India. This budget gives priority to the deprived and strives to fulfil the dreams of the aspirational society, the poor, villagers and the middle class''.

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