Shimla, Mar 13 (UNI) Former Union Minister Sukh Ram today said that the state government's functioning should be performance oriented and ministers be given more powers and freedom to take decisions pertaining to their ministries.

Participating in the discussion on Budget proposals for 2007-08 in the Assembly here, he said being a member of the Congress party he could not oppose the Budget but there were certain issues that he would like to raise.

''In view of the grim employment situation in the state, the government should convene a special session so that a strategy could be chalked out to tackle the situation'' he said.

Observing that this would be his last discussion on the Budget proposals, he said that the government should try and harness the vast hydropower potential in the state.

''I do not know whether the BJP or the Congress is responsible for the debt trap, but Himachal has fallen into it and the fact remains that today the debt has crossed over Rs 18,000 crore.'' The former union minister cautioned the government against setting up a cement plant in the state and said the plants would not be in interest of the state.

''I urge the government not to create a cement mafia like the cola mafia in Bihar, as there is hardly any benefit that the state will draw from the setting up from these plants,'' he said.

He welcomed Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's decision to set up a medical college in Mandi in government sector, but noted that no budgetary provision has been made for it in this year's budget.

UNI