Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu on Thursday hinted at some key initiatives in the budget for fiscal 2016-17 for increasing capital investment in the State.
Talking to mediapersons after addressing a workshop on pre-budget consultations here on Thursday, Capt Abhimanyu said that preparations for the budget began in December 2015. Budgetary requirements of other departments are being sized up by the Finance Department for making provision for the funds in the budget.
The priorities have already been discussed with the CM Manohar lal, and other members of the Cabinet. Opinions are being taken from the luminaries, including economists, industrialists and educationists so that the budget could be finalised in keeping with peoples’ aspirations, he said.
The Minister said that the State Government would face many challenges in the ensuing financial year. These include implementation of recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, increase in social security pensions and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. On account of the hike in the social security pensions, the Government would have to bear additional financial burden of about `600 crore.
“Increase in capital investment is as necessary as is mopping up of additional revenue. It would be the endeavor of the Government to facilitate industrial expansion and take it to the hinterland by further improving the infrastructure in the state,” he said. Asked to comment on the Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) factory being moved out of Pinjore, the Finance Minister said that the matter was discussed during the day with officers of the Central Government and a decision would be taken soon.
In reply to another question concerning financial assistance to the Martyrs, he said that the Haryana Government salutes its brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. A number of schemes like allocation of petrol pumps and gas agencies to the dependents of martyrs were started by the BJP Government, after the Kargil war and several steps have been taken for the welfare of soldiers by the present Government, he added.