Congress MLA Kumar Waii slams Arunachal budget, says, ‘visible on paper, blank in reality’

Kumar Waii, the sole Congress MLA in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and former home minister, has strongly criticized the Rs 40,000 crore state budget passed today. Describing it as a "mirror—visible from one side and blank from the other," Waii questioned the transparency and execution of the government’s financial plans.

 

The MLA from Bameng constituency in East Kameng district argued that while successive budgets have declared funds worth thousands of crores, the actual on-ground development remains questionable. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Waii claimed that most of the budget remains confined to paperwork, with little real impact on public welfare.

 

Waii further alleged widespread corruption at the grassroots level, accusing bureaucrats and departmental officers of demanding commissions from contractors before implementing government schemes. He pointed out that such practices not only compromise the quality of infrastructure projects but also burden contractors who already face high GST rates and illegal departmental cuts.

 

Referring to past irregularities, Waii highlighted the alleged misuse of CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority) funds. He claimed that the intended afforestation in project-affected areas never materialized, as funds were siphoned off without fulfilling their primary objective.

 

Advocating for better financial management, Waii proposed reinstating the ₹1 crore work order system, as the previous ₹50 lakh limit had created hurdles for small-scale development initiatives.

 

Expressing concerns over social harmony, Waii urged the government to avoid introducing laws like APFRA (Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act) or any other legislation that could divide society along religious lines.

 

He also accused the state government of submitting misleading reports to the central government regarding the implementation of schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and rural electrification. Waii stated that while official reports claim 100% water supply through pipelines and complete village electrification, many areas still lack basic drinking water facilities and rely on natural sources that dry up in winter.

 

Additionally, Waii alleged bias in the distribution of government schemes, stating that his constituency, despite being part of Arunachal Pradesh, is being neglected due to political differences. "I may be from the opposition, but my people belong to this state. Unequal allocation of funds and schemes will only create further trouble for the government," he warned.