PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Congress, on Wednesday, charged that the UT government was “politicising” relief work by blaming the Centre and demanded the release of ‘white paper’ on the current financial status and the utilisation of funds by the Puducherry government.Leader of opposition V Vaithilingam sought an explanation for the poor utilisation of budget estimates (plan) of `2750 crore, which had now been revised to `1662 crore for the current fiscal 2011-2012, despite getting the necessary funds from the Centre.Refuting the chief minister’s statement that Central government had cut down Central grant of `96 crore to adjust the cyclone relief of `125 crore, Vaithilingam said that Central government had provided a grant of `908 crore in place of `934 crore (as per the budget estimates). However, the shortfall of `26 crore in the total grants was due to the fact that Puducherry government had failed to utilise even 50 per cent of the plan allocation, to merit the release of entire grant. Out of a plan allocation of `2750 crore, the administration had spent only Rs 1100 crore up to January 25, 2012, said Vaithilingam.In fact, the Union government had given an enhanced non-plan grant of `635 crore in place of `565 crore (budget estimates), an increase of `70 crore. This has been cut from plan grant and given under non-plan as per the wishes of the government, said Vaithilingam. Further, Puducherry government had received an additional grant of `125 crore as cyclone relief. While `50 crore was released on January 13, the remaining `75 crore was released on February 2, he said.Moreover, Central government had permitted Puducherry government to avail of a loan of `400 crore through market borrowings and had given approval to avail of another `100 crore from open market. Despite this release of adequate funds, the government had neither been able to utilise the plan allocation nor was it able to distribute relief. He also alleged that there was partiality in assessment of damage and fixation of compensation, by favouring party men.Ridiculing the chief minister’s statement that statehood would make the financial situation better, he said that statehood for the UT should be sought when the financial position was enhanced to maintain on its own.The present financial situation was not conducive for claiming statehood, he said, and added that the government had been unable to pay salary to some staff as well as to those of public sector undertakings and quasi bodies. Further, he said that supplying raw rice through PDS in place of boiled rice would enhance the diabetes among people in the UT where the prevalence rate was already high.
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