Chhattisgarh is expecting a host of new Centrally sponsored projects besides a much larger funding push for infrastructure development in the upcoming Union Budget 2016-17.

With a sizeable fund allocations already made by the Centre for development projects in Chhattisgarh particularly in the road sector, the State is expecting a further funding push on particularly industrial infrastructure development in the upcoming budget, officials stated.

The Centre has already approved setting up of a Food Park in Dhamatri district of Chhattisgarh while also making fund allocations for upgrading industrial infrastructure at Urla and Siltara industrial areas near Raipur and Sirgitti in Bilaspur districts respectively.

A sizeable funding allocation had already been made for developing new railway lines in the State. One of the biggest approvals that has come in the past month is for setting up of the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Naya Raipur on 70 acres of land.

Notably, the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 21 would have 61 industrial plots, officials stated.

Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government will also be setting up an IT SEZ in the vicinity of the EMC to be established at Sector 22 in the new capital.

The EMC would be at located about 7 kms from the Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur. The site enjoys abundant water supply from the Mahanadi river and also have also sufficient power connection to cater the needs of operation in EMC, officials stated.

The location of the EMC is at Tuta village of Naya Raipur . The chief promoter of the project is Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) and the project is to be established in an area measuring 70 acres .

Notably, on December 20 last year, the Chhattisgarh Government had informed in an official statement that the Central Government has consented to provide its final approval to the EMC. The final approval was subsequently granted to the State Government.

Providing details on the 'Electronic Manufacturing Cluster,' Chief Minister Raman Singh had told the Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on his visit to New Delhi last month, that as many as 11 companies have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the tune of around Rs968 crore for setting up projects in the cluster.

The Chhattisgarh Government has completed requisite preparation for development of the 'Electronic Manufacturing Cluster' , he had stated.

As of now, there is minimal presence of Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in the State.

Making a wishlist on the upcoming Union budget, Sanjeev Prashar, Professor,Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur said: ‘Given the economic scenario marked with global economic slowdown, weaker financial markets, more volatile and falling crude oil prices, pending GST Bill and larger outflow of funds due to pay commission implementation, the forthcoming budget has emerged to be a conundrum.’

Notably, the Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission had also recently approved the ‘State Annual Plan 2016-17’ worth Rs34,715 crore at the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur.

The meeting to approve the Annual Plan was chaired by  Chief Minister Raman Singh . Notably, Chhattisgarh’s approved sector-wise annual plan outlay for 2014-15 stood at Rs26,615 crores.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister had stated that the State Government is keen on improving the lot of the last person in the remotest village. Various departments of the State should work in close co-ordination to achieve success. A detailed presentation was given before the approval of the final draft of the Annual Plan 2016-17.

The plan proposals included improvement in irrigation facilities, increase in agricultural production, up-gradation and extension of network of roads, education, health, freedom from malnutrition and other crucial issues.

Singh had stated in the meeting that the interests of the farmers will be protected by enlarging the irrigation facilities and a Mission will be launched to increase food production by rapidly developing agriculture sector. The available irrigation facilities should be utilized to the maximum extent possible. A large number of Anicuts have been constructed over canals and rivers. Solar-energy driven pumps can help the farmers to a large extent, he had stated.

The budget allocations under various heads in Chhattisgarh State Budget 2016-17 is expected to take into account Centre’s allocations made for implementation of various schemes and projects for Chhattisgarh during the current financial year.

Chief Minister Raman Singh in his meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely in New Delhi had already urged the Centre to make a provision of Rs4000 crore in the Union budget for the Bastar Development Plan.

Incidentally, it may be recalled that Chhattisgarh is among the seven worst left Wing Extremism (lWE) states which been allocated Rs228.56 crore as Additional Central Assistance (ACA) by Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had approved the State-wise allocation of Additional Central Assistance of Rs1000 crores to 35 worst lWE affected districts in seven states.

Notably, the Central Government last year had approved a revised cost of Rs3,045 crore under its Road Requirement Plan (RRP) for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas of Chhattisgarh.

The Chief Minister during his meeting with Union Finance Minister in New Delhi had also stated that the decision to provide 30 per cent of the royalty of the mining sector to Mineral Development Fund had affected the import competitiveness of the mining units. As a result, the Chief Minister urged that the mining units and the down stream manufacturing units should get income tax exemption on expenditure made by them on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Singh also urged the Union Minister to allow recommencement of scrap metal export from the Inland Container Depot in Raipur.

In July last year, Chief Minister Raman Singh had raised the issue of import clearance being denied on unshredded scrap at Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Raipur with the Central Government.

Singh in his meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely had informed that due to non clearance of import, entrepreneurs have to go to Nagpur and Vishakhapatnam, resulting in wastage of money and time.

In June last year, the Chhattisgarh Government had proposed that the Centre should undertake the “Bastar Plan” for its integrated development on both economic and security fronts.

Overall, the Centre has approved a Road Requirement Plan (RRP) for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas of a total of 34 districts in 8 States covering 5477 km length (1126 km NHs & 4351 km State Roads).

In Chhattisgarh, the fund had been approved for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas measuring 2019 kms.

As per details of Physical Progress achieved as on March 1, 2015 under RRP, the length of road completed between 2010-11 to 2014-15 in the insurgency infested areas in Chhattisgarh upto February 28,2015 was 868 kms.

As per the State-wise details of fund allocated and expenditure incurred under lWE scheme, Chhattisgarh made expenditure of Rs190 crore between 2010-11 to 2014-15 upto February 28, 2015.