ISSUES PENDING
WITH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
There are several issues which are pending with various Ministries in the Central Government which
effect the development as well as the pace of development of the State and its financial resources.
I have referred to some of these issues in my speech specially issues pertaining to the Sardar
Sarovar Project and the crucial issue of Cotton Export agitating the mind of farmers in Gujarat.
It is unfortunate that some issues remain pending for years together. There are other issues of
adhochism in decision making which increases the financial burden on the common man.
What is even more disturbing is a growing list of instances of the Central government breaching the
federal dharma. There are many issues which create a sense of injustice in the minds of the people
of the State.
Non-Payment of Royalty as per
Statutory Provisions
CST Compensation
Six laning of National Highways
connecting Somnath and Dwarka
As per policy of MoPNG royalty on crude is to be paid as per market driven price of crude oil.
However, MoPNG directed ONGCL to pay royalty on post discounted prices from April, 2008. This
issue has remained unresolved in spite of the State Govt. repeatedly taking up the matter with the
Central Government. This has resulted in a financial loss of over Rs. 5500 crore to the State.
The decision of the Govt. of India to reduce CST compensation on account of additional
revenue due to increase in the lower rate of VAT from 4% to 5% and also to discontinue CST
compensation from the year 2011-12 is a unilateral decision which goes against the
financial interests of the states. Claims of Rs. 1428.25 crore for the year 2010-11, duly
certified by Accountant General, Gujarat have been submitted but no amount has been
released although eleven states have received part of their CST compensation claims out of
Rs. 6393 crore released by GOI. These types of unilateral decisions, especially when dialogue
with the states is taking place, shows the disregard of the Central Government for the
federal structure and basic principles of democratic functioning.
Somanth and Dwarka are amongst the most revered places for Hindus and are being
visited by millions of devotees from all over the country. The devotees are using Jetpur-
Somnath and Somnath-Dwarka sections of the National Highways. NHAI has taken up the
work of four laning of Jetpur-Somnath road but this is not sufficient and six laning should
be taken up. Dwarka and Somnath is connected by a two lane road. GOI has started the
feasibility of widening of Bhavnagar-Somanth-Dwarka road. This should be completed at
the earliest and six laning of Dwarka-Somnath road should be taken up on priority.
Compensation in view of abolition of D-Form
Coal allocation to Gujarat from nearer
collieries for power generation
The additional revenue that has accrued on account abolition of D form has already been
accounted for in the treasury figures of CST revenue, but GOI has deducted the same
amount from the CST compensation claims. The issue of resultant double deduction on
account of abolition of D form has not been resolved even after repeated representations.
This has resulted in a financial implication of about Rs.1200 crore till April, 2012.
Gujarat is located in the western coast of India at a distance of more than 1600 kms from
the eastern coal belt. As the State is highly dependent on thermal generation based on
coal from collieries far away, GSECL has to incur substantially higher transportation cost of
about Rs. 2100 crore per year. The issue of allocating coal from the western coal fields has
been taken up with the Hon’ble Prime Minister on more than one occasion without success.
It is difficult to understand why Maharashtra can have a linkage of 227.01 lac MT per year
from mines of WCL but Gujarat can have a linkage of only 9.30 lac MT!
Allotment of Solar Power made by Govt. of India
Development of Dandi Heritage Route
Inclusion of Gandhinagar and Karamsad Town
under JnNURM
Although Gujarat has the highest installed capacity of 654.81 MW, out of total 979.41 MW for the
country as a whole, Gujarat has been allotted only 20 MW out of 1152.05 MW under the Jawaharlal
Nehru National Solar Mission. The logic of such a meagre allotment to the leading state of the
country defies logic and comprehension.
Even after the announcement by Hon’ble Prime Minister seven years ago that Ahmedabad -Dandi
Route will be developed as a heritage route, the proposal for works of Phase II is pending with the
Central Government since August, 2009. This is in spite of repeated requests made to the Hon’ble
Union Minister and even Hon’ble Prime Minister. Even the design of the Memorial announced has
not yet been finalized.
In spite of repeated representations made over the last six years, the capital city of Gandhinagar
and Sardar Patel’s place of birth Karamsad Town have not been included under JnNURM.
