Harish Rao asks Opposition to stop nitpicking about budget

Hyderabad: Finance Minister T Harish Rao said the budget kindled the hopes of the people but disappointing the political parties like Congress and others.

Replying on the second and concluding day of the discussion on the budget proposals in the State Legislative Council, on Friday, he said that the financial performance of the State is better on the economic parameters.

This was acknowledged by none other than the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a reply in the parliament, he said.

He asked the members to look at the new initiatives in the budget like the proposal of Rs 10,000 crore for the improvement of infrastructure within the Hyderabad comprising GHMC and the adjacent areas of it.

Similarly, Rs 1,000 crore for Market Intervention Fund, Rs 800 crore to complete the last leg of Mission Bhagiratha Scheme in 36 places, Rs 300 crore for the construction of Rythu Vedikas, Rs 210 crore to the development of Godavari River Front Development and Rs 500 crore for the development of temples were proposed.

He said additional allocations to the welfare schemes like Kalyana Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak, pensions, residential schools, double bedroom housing and Rs 100 crore literacy programme shows the commitment of the State government to the welfare sector.

Harish Rao said the sectoral-wise capital expenditure has been increased manifold and growth rate of the 10 years of UPA government in united AP stood at 13.56 per cent as against 21.47 per cent growth rate registered in the last five-and-a-half years.

The FM said the current State debt stands at 21.3 per cent of the GSDP of Telangana and it is within the FRBM limits.

On fiscal deficit front, he said, a cabinet committee appointed is looking into augmenting additional internal resources, cutting down unnecessary expenditure, to bring financial discipline.

Also, it was decided to sell the unsustainable assets like Rajeev Swagruha houses, housing board lands etc to mop up additional resources.

Besides, the State also draws funds as per Article 293 of the constitution, he clarified Harish Rao said that so far 1.23 lakh government vacancies were filled out of the notification to fill 1,32,889 vacancies and process to fill 27,000 vacancies is at various stages.

Rolling out details, he said the Centre had rejected grants recommended to the State by the 15th Finance Commission, NITI Aayog, but yet to release pending GST reimbursement and how tax devolution to the State is decreased.

Harish Rao said as announced earlier by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, PRC will be announced as early as possible and steps will be taken to provide funds to the Mandal Praja Parishads (MPPs) and Zilla Parishads (ZPs).