With an aim to supply 24x7 power to all rural domestic consumers, improve supply in the urban sector, beef up transmission and distribution network, and pare down AT&C losses, Haryana Government has allocated a major chunk of Rs1,6826.70 crore to the power sector in Budget proposals for 2016-17 presented in the State Assembly on Monday.
The allocation in power sector includes Rs10,018.73 crore on plan side and Rs6,807.97 crore on non-plan side.
Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu informed the House that specific targeted programme for each activity and detailed milestones of loss reduction plan will be prepared by Power Discoms with the view to reducing AT&C losses to 15 per cent in 2018-19 from 29.58 per cent in 2014-15. The accumulated debt of power discoms increased from Rs 1,458 crore on March 31, 2004 to Rs28,199 crore on March 31, 2014. For addressing this issue, the State Government has signed a tripartite MoU with Ministry of Power and Discoms, said he.
Giving priority to education, the State Government has allocated Rs14,305.34 crore for education sector comprising Elementary, Secondary, Higher, Technical Education, Industrial Training, sports, Art and culture for the financial year 2016-17.
Under skill development programme, several schemes have been proposed to be launched like SURYA (Skilling, Up-skilling, Re-skilling of Youth & Assessment) for Skill Training to the youth under HSDM, DAKSHA (Dissemination of Applied Knowledge and Skill in Haryana) for Skill Training to the youth under other Departments’ skill initiatives, Smart (Skill Mart): Tailor made programs for the Industries to train their required man power and Seekho-Sikhaao for training of trainers by HSDM.
It has also been envisaged to impart training to around 1.15 lakh youth per year under HSDM. The Finance Minister said that Rs 110 crore has been allocated with a hike of 214.3 per cent for dual desk scheme as compared Rs35 crore for year 2015-16.
The State Government has also set apart Rs1,657.04 crore for as many as 28 Swaran Jayanti Schemes proposed to be launched during the financial year 2016-17. The departments these span include agriculture, cooperation, industries, Enterprises Promotion Policy 2015, Information Technology, health, social justice, civil aviation, environment, economic & statistical analysis, tourism, pilgrimage, Ayush and welfare of SCs & BCs.
The schemes have been stitched as to address the issues that confront the concerned segment, redress the grievances, if any, and to enhance the capabilities and contribution of each of the 28 departments, sections and wings to the economy of the state, said the Finance Minister.
The BJP led State Govt has proposed to set up a Debt and Cash Management Cell (DMC) in the Finance Department for effective monitoring and management of debt and cash flow.
It will capture all outstanding loans and interest thereon, term of loans, repayment schedule etc, and facilitate tabling of/obtaining future debt in a better and transparent manner at competitive rates of interest. The cell will, inter alia, look into the investment of surplus funds to maximize revenue, he added.
The Government also plans to set up a state level academic institution named Swarnjayanti Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI). It will provide specialized research opportunities in the areas of public finance and policy to policy makers, business fraternity, industry associations, academic institutions and other research and consultancy organisations along with specialised training opportunities for officers of the Haryana Govt as well as other states. Another initiative involves asset mapping and land monetization. Vast tracts of lands of PSUs / boards / corporations, a potential source of revenue for the state, are lying unutilised or have been encroached upon.
“The Ggovernment will soon constitute a committee under persons of unimpeachable integrity to suggest effective utilisation, development or monetisation of Govt owned land bank to generate more revenue in the larger interest of the people of the state”, Capt Abhimanyu said.
New medical institutions announced
In order to give major boost to health sector, Haryana Government has decided to establish a number of medical institutes in the State. These included a decision to establish Health University as a Centre of Excellence at Kutail in District Karnal, the National Cardiovascular Institute through the Government of India at village Badhsa in District Jhajjar, new medical colleges at Panchkula, Bhiwani and Jind and a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Village Manethi in District Rewari. Besides, it has also decided to establish an AYUSH University in the State.
An outlay of Rs3916.94 crore in 2016-17 has been made for Health and Family welfare which is an increase of 37.1 per cent over the an outlay of Rs2857.28 crore in 2015-16.
Haryana to develop five prominent sites for tourists
As the Union Ministry of Tourism has identified Kurukshetra under Krishna Circuit to develop tourism infrastructure in the city, Haryana Government has identified and shortlisted five prominent sites namely Sannihit Sarovar, Amin Kund, Narkatari, Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar as well as Kurukshetra city for development. An outlay of Rs66.81 crore has been made in 2016-17 for Tourism to undertake these projects giving an increase of 109.4 per cent over Rs31.90 crore in the year 2015-16.
To give boost to tourism sector, a 3-D multimedia show on various themes from Srimad Bhagvad Gita and Mahabharata, installation of Viraat Swaroop of Bhagwan Shri Krishna and a theme park complex replicating original 48 Kos Mahabharata war area have been included under these innovative projects. A detailed project report (DPR) for development of Mahabharata places near Kurukshetra with outlay of Rs99 crore has been submitted to the Government of India.
Agriculture sector
Haryana has allocated Rs13,494 crore for 2016-17 for the agriculture and allied sectors. Keeping pace with the increased allocation for crop husbandry under different schemes, including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Agriculture Expansion and Technology, National Oilseed and Oil Palm Mission, etc., from Rs736.66 crore to Rs984.51 crore in 2016-17 by the Government of India, the Finance Minister has proposed to increase the state share from Rs132.83 crore in 2015-16 to Rs205.20 crore, an increase of 54.48 per cent. Rs50 crore has been allocated for setting up a Horticultural University in Karnal.