Himachal Minister slams Union Budget, says every state has right to Centre’s resources

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 23 (ANI): With the Union Budget having proposals for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, two states in which crucial allies of BJP are in power, Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Tuesday that the announcements were on expected lines but noted that every state has equal right to the Centre’s resources.

He said people had anticipated such budget announcements as the BJP is working for the survival of the government it leads at the Centre but “this system is very dangerous for the country’s federal system” and the Centre should have moved ahead keeping requirements of all states in mind.

“This is a very disappointing budget. And we didn’t have any expectations also. It was expected that a budget would be made to save the government,” Negi told ANI.

“Every state and every Union Territory has equal right on the resources of the Centre. Central government should have prepared the budget keeping into consideration all the requirements of everyone,” he added.

He alleged that no money has been allotted to Himachal Pradesh for disaster management and no amount has been fixed for flood relief and only an announcement has been made, almost a year after the floods that caused extensive damage in the state.

“We have been given a ‘jujhuna’,” he alleged.

In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Himachal Pradesh suffered extensive losses due to floods last year.

“Our government will provide assistance to the state for reconstruction and rehabilitation through multilateral development assistance,” she said.

JD-U in Bihar and TDP in Andhra Pradesh are allies of BJP and their support is crucial for the survival of the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.

Sitharaman made some major announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

“On the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor we will support the development of an industrial nod at Gaya in Bihar. We will also support the construction of road connectivity projects namely Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbanga and an additional two-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar at a total cost of Rs 26,000 crore,” she said.

“Power projects, including setting up of a new 2400 megawatt power plant at Pirpainti, will be taken up at a cost of Rs 21400 crore,” she added.

Sitharaman said new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure will be constructed in Bihar.

“An additional allocation to support capital investments will be provided. The requests of Bihar Government for external assistance from multilateral development banks will be expedited,” she said.

Sitharaman also said that the BJP-led government has made concerted efforts to fulfil the commitments in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act.

“Recognizing the state’s need for a capital, we will facilitate special financial support through multilateral development agencies. In the current financial year Rs 15,000 crore will be arranged, with additional amounts in future years.”

Sitharaman said the BJP-led government is fully committed to financing and early completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project, which is the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers. This will facilitate country’s food security as well.

“Under the Act, for promoting industrial development, funds will be provided for essential infrastructure such as water, power, railways and roads in Kopparthy node on the Vishakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and Orvakal node on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. An additional allocation will be provided this year towards capital investment for economic growth,” she said.

Grants for backward regions of Rayalaseema, Prakasam and North Coastal Andhra, as stated in the Act, will also be provided, she added.