Naveen Patnaik Criticizes Odisha Government for Unspent Budget and Economic Decline

By A Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Leader of Opposition (LoP) and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday criticized the state government for failing to utilize a large portion of the funds allocated in the previous budget, which he claims is contributing to the economic downturn.

Patnaik highlighted that despite the allocation of a significant sum in the last budget, a large portion remains unspent, negatively impacting industrial growth and the state’s financial stability. "A very large sum of money from the last budget has still not been spent. Industrial growth is down, so are the finances of our state," he said.

He also pointed out the negative implications of the current government's policies, stating, "It seems that the double-engine government is going in reverse gear." Patnaik expressed concern over the rising prices of essential commodities and the ongoing crisis in the agricultural sector, with farmer suicides continuing to affect the state.

“Unemployment is spiraling, and this is a budget which must be spent,” he emphasized, calling on the government to focus on effective implementation of budgetary allocations to tackle the state’s pressing economic and social challenges.