Monitor News Bureau
JAMMU, DEC15: Devised to give a massive push to the public infrastructure, Rs 88911 crore state budget for the fiscal 2019-20 was approved by the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik.
Advisors to the Governor, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to the Governor Umang Narula were present at the specially convened SAC meeting here this evening.
Principal Secretary Finance, Navin K Choudhary gave a detailed presentation to the SAC on the Revised Estimates for 2018-19, Budget Estimates for 2019-20 and other key features of the budget.
The SAC was informed that the focus of the Budget 2019-20is to give a big push to tangible developmental initiatives with Rs 30469 crore earmarked for building public and social infrastructure in addition to Rs 3631 crore already provided under Languishing Projects Programme.
According to Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, the Budget 2019-20 is structured around three fundamental objectives of Building Infrastructure, Building Institutions and Building Systems under the Government’s overarching Mission for Delivering Development and Mission on Good Governance.
Local Bodies
Giving sector-wise details of the budget proposals, Chief Secretary said that the Panchayats and Municipal Bodies for the first time are likely to receive considerable funds. Rs 2573 crores are expected to flow to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rs 1030 crores to Urban Local Bodies during next 15 months. Every Panchayat will get funds ranging from Rs20 lakh to Rs1 crore depending on its area and population to transform the developmental activities at the grassroots level.
2000 posts of Accounts Assistants are proposed to be created for Panchayati Raj Institutions to help them manage expenditure and account keeping.
MGNREGA has been an important rural development programme. However, it has a strict 60:40 ratio for wage component and capital component. In order to meet this ratio, many a times quality of infrastructure created through this programme is not up to standards and accordingly MGNREGA fundsshall be supplemented by way of up to 10% allocation from the State Exchequer to ensure quality of assets created.
The funding for the Rural Development Department has been proposed to be doubled to undertake various activities of urgent public needs.
Rs 7 crore State share proposed to be provided to the Rural Development Department for solid waste management in rural areas, Rs 1 crore additionality for construction of quality pathways in the hilly villages and additional Rs 1.28 crore for completion/ construction of playfields in Poonch and Reasi.
Agriculture, Animal/Sheep Husbandry/Horticulture
The CS said allocation to Agriculture sector has been proposed to be enhanced by Rs20 crores to be used for Revolving fund for Basmati Rice, improvement of Chinore Seed Farm, procurement of Dual Maize Thrashers, purchase of vegetable seeds, Mushroom cultivation, Paddy thrasher, Critical repairs of Irrigation channels, Vermi composite facilities, Bore well lift irrigation facilities, Cold storage etc.
To ensure availability of feed as per requirement an additional amount of Rs4 crore has been proposed for Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department and RS 1 crore for shifting of the Animal/Sheep Husbandry farm to Chatta from Jammu.
50% subsidy proposed to be provided for all new CA stores to be established during next fiscal. Similarly, 50% subsidy will be made available for refrigerated vans for transportation of perishable vegetables/fruits.
Rs 2 crore have been provided for promotion of urban horticulture by way of planting 2-5 trees in the residential premises of households having some open land available.
To promote commercial cultivation of flowers in private sector, a provision of Rs9.18 crores has been made to meet the freight subsidy, refrigerated vans etc. The Floriculture Department will work out a scheme in this regard.
Education
To build infrastructure in existing and 40 new Degree Colleges proposed to be opened in the State, an allocation of Rs50 crores in the balance period of the current financial year and Rs200 crores for the next financial year has been proposed for infrastructure augmentation. Required manpower with more emphasis on teaching faculty will also be provided for these Degree Colleges.
Taking note of the fact that more than 8 lakh children in the primary and middle schools are without benches and desks and study sitting on the ground, the Government has proposed to provide Rs100 crores in budget to address this issue.
To ensure regular water and electricity supply to all the schools, an allocation of Rs 45crores has been made for next fiscal.
Rs 5.50 crore have been proposed for reactivating EDU-SAT and setting up additional Smart Classrooms in schools.
Health Sector
All under-construction buildings of Medical Colleges, District/Sub-district hospitals, PHCs etc are proposed to be completed during 2019-2020 for which an allocation of Rs 350 crs has been proposed.
Besides, Rs 100 crores has been proposed to be provided for onetime augmentation of the equipment in the hospitals across the State.
To meet the obligation of the State share for acquisition of land/structures for establishment of AIMS at Vijaypur and Awantipora, Rs 87.09 crore is proposed to be provided. Similarly, Rs5crore as State share has been provided for establishment of five new medical colleges.
To augment the healthcare sector Rs1 crore has been proposed for construction of Red Cross House at Srinagar, Rs3.18 crore to complete various works of Health and Medical Education Department in the Doda district as per directions of the Governor, Rs32 crores additional State share for 5 new Medical Colleges, Rs1.50 crore for purchase of 5 critical care ambulances for hilly districts, establishment of Cath Lab at the estimated cost of Rs.8.00 crore at SMHS Srinagar, Rs8 crore for establishment/procurement of MRI at SKIMS Medical College (JVC Bemina), Rs1 crore for establishment of Drug-de-addiction centre at SKIMS Medical College (JVC Bemina) and Rs 3 crore for upgradation of Sonam Narbo Hospital, Leh to 300 bed capacity.
Power Sector
Rs 300 crores proposed to be provided over and above the normal outlay, PMDP funding and Centrally Sponsored Schemes for development of power distribution system to ensure complete transformation of power network by the end of financial year 2019-20.
The Government intends to put in place professional Board of Directors and sound professional team of management.
The provisions for power purchase has been enhanced to Rs 5261 crores in RE 2018-19 against the original budgetary provision of Rs 4700 crores, the provision of Rs5000 crores has been kept in Budget Estimates of 2019-2020. In addition, the Government is hopeful to receive the concurrence of Union Finance Ministry to grant permission for raising Rs3500 crores state bonds to address the past power purchase liability.
To check power pilferage and ensure all consumers pay for the power it consumes, PDD is in the process of procuring and installing prepaid smart meters in all the households/ business establishments etc. Necessary funds have been made available in this regard.
To brighten the evenings and improve the night life, Rs10crore will be provided to install minimum of 100 high mask lights in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
Solar Power
To promote Solar Power, Rs10 crore has been provided in the Revised Estimates 2018-19. Further, an amount of Rs45 crore will be provided for promotion of solar power including solar heaters in the year 2019-20.
PHE/ Irrigation & Flood Control
A sum of Rs 1500 crores is proposed to be provided to augment the drinking water supply across the State in the proposed budget.
To boost irrigation facilities Rs 150crores is proposed to be spent during 2019-20. Rs12crore provided for purchase of dredgers for Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Kashmir.
Roads and Buildings
Annual budgetary allocation for macadamization of roads proposed to be enhanced from Rs 100 crore to Rs 400 crores in 2019-20. Roads and Buildings department will make all efforts to use new technologies to the extent possible.
Budgetary allocation for land acquisition for roads including those funded by PMGSY, NABARD proposed to be enhanced from Rs 30 crore to Rs100 crores for 2019-20.
Rs20 crore proposed for beautification of bridges and flyovers in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu during 2019-20.
To complete pending works of roads, bridges etc languishing for many years, an additional sum of Rs 1000 crores will be spent during 2019-20.
Housing and Urban Development
To promote planned expansion of the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, Metropolitan Authorities will be created for which an initial provision of Rs100 crores has been made. This will be supplemented by funding available under Smart Cities and institutional borrowing.
An allocation of Rs 500 crores towards construction of drainage and sewerage, STPs and solid waste disposal plants across the State is proposed in the balance part of the current year and during next financial year.
Industries and Commerce
The pending issues of amnesty on interest and penalty of past power dues of industries has been resolved.
Rs400 crores have been proposed to be spent on augmentation of infrastructure including waste disposal in all existing and upcoming industrial estates and also to support the process of improving “Ease of doing Business”.
Social Welfare
The State Government has recently approved granting old age pension to 40000 new pensioners and budgetary allocation has been provided for the same. Further, Rs 4crore is proposed for improvement of Bal Ashrams, home for mentally ill persons and old aged persons.
Tourism Sector
Under the PMDP, tourism sector has got a major boost by way of assured funding of Rs2000 crores for tourism infrastructure building. In addition, Rs130 crores to be provided for augmentation of the staff of Tourism Department for 2019-2020 which would also include creation of PMU or a dedicated cell for effective promotional campaign throughout the Country and World.
Youth Services &Sports
In order to complete all ongoing works of stadiums, play fields including game specific infrastructure, Rs 350 crores has been proposed to be spent during 2019-2020.
Career Counselling
It is proposed that a sum of Rs 3.50 crore in the financial year 2019-2020 at Rs 50 lakh each for providing of textbooks of all subjects and other required study material to clear competitive examinations purpose is provided. These books and study material will be provided either in the District Libraries or the counselling centres operated by the Employment Department. In the first phase districts of Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Kathua, Poonch, Doda and Leh will be taken up.
A sum of Rs.2.00 crore has been provided for inviting reputed career counsellors to visit Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges to make the students aware of opportunities available to them across various fields.
Transport Sector
It is proposed to subsidize 500 new large busses in the private sector. Accordingly, Rs 25 crore has been provided in the budget. Transport Department in consultation with Finance Department will work out the modalities/guidelines in this regard.
In order to provide for low floor busses in Jammu and Srinagar cities, an initial sum of Rs 25 crore is provided in the budget. A decision would be taken regarding this new service to be run by SRTC or Smart City Corporation or altogether to a new company.
For revival of SRTC by way of augmentation of its fleet, in the Revised Estimates for the current year Rs 10 crore is proposed to be provided for purchase of 45-50 new buses to be deployed largely in hilly districts of the State. Rs 25 crore is further proposed to be provided for purchase of new busses by SRTC in 2019-20 for plying on long routes. An additional Rs 2 crore each will be provided for purchase of buses for Leh and Kargil and Rs 1 crore for Gurez which remain landlocked for half of the year.
Revenue Sector
Rs5.00 crore is being provided for early computerisation/digitization of land records completion.
50 new vehicles will be provided for Tehsildars/ SDMs. Revenue Department is also in the process of levying service fees for various activities like land acquisition, issuance of certificates of various kinds.
Culture
Rs 50 lakhs to be provided for nomination preparation process for “World Heritage Licensing by UNECSO of Mughal Gardens”.
To establish dedicated art gallery at Srinagar as well as Jammu, an initial provision of Rs1 crore is being made. Planetarium at Jammu near Kala Kendra would be taken up for construction for which a provision of Rs1crore is being made.
Mobile library for far off and remote villages would serve the deprived population well. Accordingly, 4 such units will be established in the year 2019-2020, for which Rs1crore will be provided. A Heritage Society is proposed to be created with an initial token amount of Rs1 crore.
A token provision of Rs 25 crore is being made during the Financial Year 2019-20 towards matching share.
Employees/Employment Generation
Rs 9000 crore provided for meeting additional financial requirement on account of implementation of 7th pay Commission recommendations. Arrears also being paid to the employees in the current year itself.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)
Rs 4 crore proposed to be provided for construction Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) headquarter at Srinagar.
Information Technology
Rs5crores to be provided for digitization of office records of Civil Secretariat and Rs3crore for installing robust LAN Network.
DDCs
Rs1 cr each has been provided to all DDCs for developmental works in the next financial year. The two aspirational districts of Baramulla and Kupwara has been provided Rs1 crore each over and above this untied grant.
BUDGET 2019-20HIGHLIGHTS
1. Infrastructure
• Rs 30469 cr earmarked for investment in development sector during 2019-20
• Rs 3631 cr additional investment in 1643 languishing projects
• To build spending capacity, Line Departments to be provided funds for hiring Consultants, creating DPR Preparation Cells, Project Implementation Agencies, IT consultants etc
2. Local Governance
• Rs 2573 cr to flow to Panchayati Raj Institutions & Rs 1030 cr to Urban Local Bodies in next 15 months
• Every Panchayat to get Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore depending upon area, population
• 2000 posts of Accounts Assistants proposed to be created for Panchayati Raj Institutions
• MGNREGA funds proposed to be supplemented by 10% capital infusion from the State Exchequer to create quality assets
3. Rural Development
• State allocation for Rural Development Department proposed to be doubled to undertake works of urgent public need
• Rs 7 cr state share proposed to be provided to Rural Development Department for solid waste management
• Rs 1 cr additional funds proposed to be allocated to Rural Development Department for construction of quality pathways in mountainous villages
4. Agriculture /Horticulture
• Annual allocation to Agriculture Sector proposed to be enhanced by Rs 20 cr
• 50% subsidy proposed for all new Controlled Atmospheric Stores to be established next fiscal
• 50% subsidy for refrigerated vans for transportation of perishable vegetables/fruits
• Provision of Rs 9.18 cr to meet freight subsidy for transportation of cut-flowers to promote commercial flower cultivation
5. Education
• Rs 250 cr proposed to be allocated for upgradation of infrastructure in existing, New Degree Colleges
• Rs 100 cr proposed to be allocated for providing benches and desks for students in primary and middle schools
• Rs 45 cr proposed to be allocated for providing assured electricity, drinking water supply to schools
• Rs 5.5 cr proposed to be allocated for reactivating EDUSAT, setting up additional Smart Classrooms in schools
• Rs 3.50 cr proposed to be provided to help prepare students for competitive exams like IAS/KAS/JEE/NEET/Banking
• Rs 1000 cr proposed for regularization of RRTs, SSA teachers
6. Healthcare
• Rs 350 cr proposed for completion of under-construction buildings of Medical Colleges, District/ Sub-district Hospitals, PHCs etc
• Rs 100 cr proposed for onetime augmentation of equipment in hospitals
• Rs 87.09 cr state share proposed for AIIMS Vijapur& AIIMS Awantipora
• Rs 32 cr additional State share for 5 New Medical Colleges
• Rs 1.50 cr for purchase of 5 Critical Care Ambulances for hilly districts
• Rs 1 cr for establishment of Drug-de-Addiction Centre at SKIMS Medical College Bemina
• Sonam Narbo Hospital, Leh proposed to be upgraded to 300 bedded Hospital for which a provision of Rs 3 crore has been made
7. Power Sector
• Rs 5000 cr earmarked for power purchase
• Rs 300 cr proposed over and above normal outlay, PMDP and Centrally Sponsored Schemes for upgradation of power distribution network
• Rs 55 cr proposed for promotion of Solar Power
8. PHE/Irrigation & Flood Control
• Rs 1500 cr allocation proposed to augment drinking water supply
• Mega drinking water supply project on Chenab River to be taken up for execution to augment potable water supply in Jammu
• Rs 150 cr proposed for upgradation of irrigation facilities
• State share provided for Shahpur Kandi Dam project and Ujh multipurpose project
• Rs 12 cr provided for purchase of dredgers for Irrigation & Flood Control Deptt
9. Roads and Buildings
• Additional Rs 1000 cr proposed for completion of languishing connectivity projects
• Annual allocation for macadamization proposed to be enhanced from Rs 100 crore to Rs 400 cr for 2019-20
• Rs 100 cr proposed for land acquisition of PMGSY roads
• Rs 20 cr for beautification of bri9dges and flyovers in Srinagar and Jammu
10. Industries & Commerce
• Rs 400 cr proposed for augmentation of infrastructure including waste disposal in existing and upcoming industrial estates
• Pending issues of amnesty on interest and penalty of power arrears of industries resolved
11. Social Welfare
• Budgetary allocation provided for coverage of 40000 new pensioners under old age, widow, destitute scheme
• Rs 4 cr proposed for improvement of Bal Ashrams, Home for Mentally Ill Persons and Old-Aged Persons
• Full funding provided for all existing schemes of Social Welfare Department for underprivileged sections of society
12. Tourism
• Rs 130 cr for tourism promotion in addition to Rs 2000 cr under PMDP for infrastructure upgradation
13. Culture
• Rs 50 lakh for nomination preparation process for “World Heritage Licensing of Mughal Gardens by UNESCO”
• Rs 1 crore each proposed for establishing dedicated Art Galleries in Srinagar and Jammu
• Rs 1 cr provided for construction of Planetarium near Kala Kendra Jammu
• Rs 25 crore to be provided for establishment of Art & Culture Centres at district level
14. Youth Services & Sports
• Rs 350 cr proposed for massive upgradation of sports infrastructure
• Rs 5 cr for promotion of youth exchange programmes
15. Institutions
• Rs 4 cr for construction of Anti-Corruption Bureau Headquarters
• Rs 2 cr each untied grant provided to all District Development Commissioners for current and next fiscal
• Aspirational districts of Baramulla and Kupwara provided Rs 1 crore each over and above untied grant
16. Transport
• Rs 25 cr for subsidy for purchase of 500 new buses in private sector
• Rs 36 cr for revival of SRTC
• Rs 25 cr for purchase of Low Floor Buses
17. Housing & Urban Development
• Metropolitan Authorities to be created for Srinagar and Jammu with an initial outlay of Rs 100 cr
• Rs 500 cr for construction of drainage and sewerage network, STPs
• Rs 10 cr for installing high mask lights in Srinagar and Jammu
• Rs 10 cr proposed for riverfront development in Jammu city and connecting Vikram Chowk with Gujjar Nagar bridge along river Tawi
18. IT Infrastructure
• Rs 15 cr for providing dedicated IT infrastructure at Civil Secretariat, Jammu to avoid relocating of computers and other paraphernalia during Durbar Move
• Rs 5 cr for digitization of office records of Civil Secretariat
• Rs 3 cr for installation of robust LAN Network in Civil Secretariat
