Lawmakers in a pre-budget discussion with the finance ministry on Thursday stressed on planning in the next fiscal year budget strategies for generating 9000 megawatt of electricity within the next five years.
   They demanded providing top priority to power generation in the 2010-11 budget as it would be difficult to seek support from voters in the elections if the issue is not addressed in right earnest.
   Responding to their demands, finance minister AMA Muhith assured of providing utmost priority to the country’s power and energy sector in the next fiscal year budget.
   Chairmen and members of seven parliamentary standing committees were present at the discussion chaired by Muhith at the finance ministry  auditorium.
   Chairman of the standing committee on law    and Awami League presidium member Surajit Sen Gupta said the past governments in last 40 years  had added only 7000MW electricity.
   ‘How can a government bring 9000MW electricity,’ he questioned and said the government does not have Aladdin’s Lamp to arrange generation of 9000MW electricity in five years. He suggested elaborate planning to provide the power in phases.
   Dealing on other budget issues, Suranjit said people would lose confidence on the government as the finance ministry has not yet implemented the district-wise budget, and integration of the development and revenue budget as pledged.
   He also mentioned that the country’s education policy, land use policy, and industrial policy have not yet been implemented.
    Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on industry ministry Tofail Ahmed said new power plants can come into operation within one-and-a-half-year time if the lengthy tender process can be skipped.
   ‘We can give permission to set up an independent power plant to a company through an expression of interest,’ he suggested.
   Tofail also said more funds should be provided in the next budget for exploration of gas fields instead of holding expensive road shows abroad.
   He also said the finance ministry should provide a number of tax incentives in the next budget for protecting the country’s local industries.
   The country is going through severe load shedding for the last two months because of huge gap in demand and supply of electricity.
   The local industries are also being severely affected because of on going power and gas shortage.
   Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on post and telecommunication and JSD president Hasanul Haque Inu said that the next fiscal year would be the year for implementing budget pledges.
   He also said that his committee has urged the finance ministry to reduce the tax on SIM cards for boosting the country’s telecom sector.
   ‘We will need an allocation of Tk 800 crore in the next fiscal year for development of country’s cooperative sector,’ he added.
   Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on power, energy and mineral resources ministry Subid Ali Bhuiyan said that the finance ministry should provide in the next budget incentives for promoting solar power in the country.