Telangana government presents its maiden Budget, promises to make the state as ‘Seed Bowl of India’

Hyderabad: Telangana Finance Minister Eatala Rajender presented the state’s maiden Budget in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday with an outlay of Rs. 1,00,637 crore including plan expenditure of Rs. 48,648 crore and non-plan expenditure of Rs 51,989 crore, while the fiscal deficit is pegged at Rs 17,398 crores,

The Budget for 10 months of the current fiscal year came with a revenue surplus of Rs 301 crores.

With sizable allocations for various schemes, the focus of the budget was on irrigation and tanks, drinking water and welfare of backwards classes.

Rajender said that though the Budget is only for 10 months, it will be a precursor to the next year’s full-fledged budget and has been so programmed to integrate seamlessly into the five year perspective plan 2014-19.

Highlights of the Budget:

• Financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of 459 people, identified as Telangana martyrs and Rs 100 crore allocated for their welfare.
• 45,000 irrigation tanks to be restored in the next 5 years, of which 9000 will be restored this year.
• Rs 2000 crore has been allocated for restoration of irrigation tanks.
• Another Rs 6500 crore has been allocated for completion of four major lift irrigation schemes, which will irrigate 2.97 lakh acres.
• State government has taken a decision to promote drip irrigation to optimize the use of ground water in 1.36 lakh acres with a subsidy of 100 percent to SC and ST farmers, 90 percent to small and marginal farmers and 80 percent to other farmers. An amount of Rs. 250 crore has been allocated for this purpose
• State Drinking Water Grid will be established to provide piped water to houses. Rs 2000 crores has been set aside for this purpose.
• To shield farmers from market risk characterised by wide fluctuations in agriculture produce prices, Market Intervention Fund will be established with a provision of Rs. 400 crore.
• As part of the loan waiver scheme, an amount of Rs 4250 crores has already been credited as the first instalment. Government has further decided to provide loan waiver up to Rs. 1 lakh per weaver family. To provide relief to farmers, Input subsidy of Rs 480 crores has also been released.
• With the aim of making Telangana as the seed bowl of India, government has taken the initiative of developing seed chains and an amount of Rs.50 crore has been granted.
• An amount of Rs.100 crore is proposed for farm mechanization, the amounts proposed for crop colonies including soil testing.
• To promote green house farming in 1,000 acres in the areas surrounding Hyderabad, Rs, 200 crore has been granted and subsidy of 75 per cent will be given on the cost of establishing green house farms.
• Rs. 20 crore has been granted towards power subsidy to poultry farmers and Rs. 16.30 crore has been provided as incentive to milk producers at the rate of Rs. 4 per litre of milk supplied to Vijaya Dairy.
• Social Welfare Department has been renamed as SC Development Department and Rs 1000 crore has been set aside for providing three acres of cultivable land to landless SC households.
• Tribal sub plan raised amount to Rs 4461 crore. Tribals hamlets to be upgraded to gram panchayats. Rs 245 crores has been granted for development of educational institutions in tribal areas.
• Rs 25 crores granted for setting up of Tribal museum and memorial at Jodeghat in Adilabad district.
• Amount granted under the SC and ST sub-plans are Rs.7579.45 crore and Rs.4559.81 crore, respectively.
• Government earmarks Rs. 7,579 crore and Rs. 4,559 crore respectively for SC and ST sub plans, Rs. 2,022 crore for welfare backward classes and Rs. 1,030 crore for minorities welfare.
• Rs. 330 crore has been allocated for Kalyanalaxmi scheme in which a newly-weded woman gets Rs 51,000.
• Government allocated Rs. 10 crore for strengthening safety and security measures for women.
• Rs 100 crore allocated for one time supply of LPG connections to poor women.
• Rs 1317.77 crore has been granted for the payment of pensions to the aged and the widows. The amount proposed for pensions to the disabled is Rs 367.75 crore.
• Rs 25 crore earmarked to provide improvised education from KG to PG.
• Rs 212.86 crore has been allocated under the Plan for Technical Education, enhancing the employability of students passing out of technical institutions.
• Rs. 119.63 crore has been granted for the IIIT at Basara.
• Health sector got Rs 2, 282 crore. Gandhi and Osmania hospitals provided Rs 100 crore each. Maternity hospital in Hyderabad to get Rs. 50 crore. Nil outré and King Koti hospitals given Rs 30 crore and Rs 25 crore each.
• Health University to be established at Warangal.
• Rs 90 crore granted for ITIR projects in Hyderabad.
• National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Medak has the potential to attract investments of over Rs 40,000 crore and to provide direct employment to 3 lakh people besides supporting 4.50 lakh jobs indirectly.
• Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) will be set up to link research institutes, academia and industry.
• Rs.350 crore for building a rapid response system capable of reaching any trouble spot within a maximum time of 10 minutes.
• Amounts for installation of CCTV surveillance systems in the areas covered under Hyderabad and Cyberabad city Police Commissionerates are Rs 44.59 crore and Rs 25 crore, respectively.
• Rs. 250 crore for GHMC for taking up slum free programme and Rs 416.67 crore as loans to Hyderabad Metro Rail.
• Rs 5812 crore has been granted for improvement of water supply in slum areas of Hyderabad, Krishna and Godavari water supply schemes and sewerage improvement.
• TSRTC gets 400 crore for procuring 1000 new buses.
• 20,000 MW power to be added in next 5 years, NTPC to set up 4000 MW plant at Ramagundam and BHEL to set up thermal plants with a capacity of 6000 MW.
• Telangana government signed MoU with Chattaisgarh for supply of 1000 MW.
• Government to invest Rs 1000 crore in TSGENCO under state plan.
• Massive plantation of 230 crore trees to be taken up with 3600 nurseries. A corpus fund of Rs 300 crore is set aside for this project. A Forest College to be set up with Rs 10 crore.
• To promote tourism and culture, Telangana Kala Bhavan will be set up in 11 acres near India Park in Hyderabad. Telangana kala Bhavan and kaloji cultural centre in Warangal get Rs 15 crore.
• Rs 100 crore development plan for temple town of Yadagirigutta and Rs 100 crore earmarked for Godavari pushkaralu.
• Rs. 60 crore has been allocated for infrastructure development in tourism destinations and circuits and Rs 90 crore for sports stadium and modernisation of sports facilities.
• Constituency development programme fund increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs. 1.5 crore. Rs 234 crore set aside for this purpose.
• Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for weaker section housing scheme comprising two bed room flats.