Tough to pay salaries, admits Gogoi

FUND CRUNCH

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 2: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted on Wednesday that the State government is reeling under a fincial crisis.

Addressing the gathering after iugurating the Chaolung Sukapha Samany Kshetra in Jorhat, Gogoi referred to various problems the State is currently facing.

"The fincial crisis is such that it has become difficult to disburse salaries of employees," he said, days after declaring that his government will ensure that employees get their salaries on time.

Gogoi blamed the Centre for the crisis, reiterating that the NDA government has slashed funding to the State.

"The Central government has also stopped many schemes meant for the poor," he alleged.

Fince department sources said the priority of the State government is to disburse the salaries.

"From the State revenue, we first try to clear the salaries. The second priority is to release the State share of the Central schemes. After these payouts, come payments to contractors etc," the sources said.

As a result, most developmental works have come to a standstill.

"The contractor payments are being kept pending for months and years. As such they have suspended the works on many ongoing projects," sources said.