Patna, May 24: The conflict between Governor Devanand Konwar and the state government reached a flashpoint today with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi holding him responsible for withholding 13 bills for almost two months, causing loss of around Rs 309 crore to the state exchequer.

The state government had passed 14 bills in the last Assembly session. Except the Right to Public Service Act, the governor has not given his assent to any of them.

“The governor has not given his assent to 13 important bills, including two money bills — Bihar municipal (amendment) bill 2011 and Bihar panchayati raj (amendment) bill, 2011. If the governor does not give his assent to them, the state will incur a loss of around Rs 309 crore,” Modi said on the sidelines of his weekly janata darbar at his official residence in the state capital.

Citing the constitutional provisions, Modi said the governor can either give his assent or withhold a bill or refer it to the President for advice but no timeframe has been envisaged for returning the bills.

Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, appealed to the governor to give his assent to all the pending bills as soon as possible for the overall growth of the state.

According to the 13th Finance Commission’s guideline, Modi said, the state government has to fulfil nine conditions to get grants for corporations and panchayati raj institutions for 2011-12.

The government has passed the amendment bill and the ball is now in the governor’s court, he said. If the governor does not give his assent to the amendments to the two aforesaid bills, the state might lose Rs 209 crore and another Rs 100 crore on account of professional tax.

Citing example of conditions imposed by the commission to receive grants, the finance minister said every state government was supposed to fulfil nine conditions of which Bihar government has introduced the appointment of Lok Prahari (ombudsman) through amendment in every division and constitution of property tax board.

Similarly, the state government has introduced professional tax under which every professional is supposed to make an annual payment of Rs 2,500 for each earning member, the deputy chief minister said, adding that it would fetch Rs 100 crore to the state coffers but delay in giving assent would certainly deprive the state from getting the revenue because it would take another six months for its implementation from the date of assent.

Besides these two bills, the Bihar integrated checkpost authority bill, Bihar value added tax (amendment) bill, Bihar state university commission bill for the centralised appointment of college teachers are with the governor, Modi said.

Asked what reason he foresees for not getting speedy assent to the bills, Modi said: “I can’t say why the governor has withheld the bills. The state government has no information. The governor is a constitutional post, I am just making people aware of the facts prevailing in the state.”

On whether he would seek recalling of the governor, Modi said there was no such plan.

Modi said the NDA MPs would raise the issue of the role of governors in the coming session of Parliament in July.

On the issue of MPLAD funds, Modi said it should be scrapped.

“In my personal view, MPLAD scheme should be scrapped as it is one of the reasons behind the defeat of the candidates.”