Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is all set to present one of the biggest, but tax-free and deficit Budget of Uttar Pradesh, in the State Assembly on Tuesday with increase in its budgetary allocation by almost 25 per cent. An official told The Pioneer here on Monday that total expenditure is likely to be Rs3,00,000 crore with a deficit of around Rs5,100 crore. This Budget is also likely to witness increase in income.
The last Budget was tabled in June under the shadow of ignominious defeat Samajwadi Party had suffered in the lok Sabha elections. Jolted by the result, the Government had dropped all the populist schemes like laptop distribution and distribution of unemployment allowance and instead focused on bijli, paani and sadak. Over 75 per cent of the Budget was meant for farm sector and developing infrastructure.
“The tone and tenor of the Budget for the next fiscal is likely to remain the same. Money would be spent on agriculture, development of State highways and generating more electricity so to meet the power demand,” the official said. In last fiscal the deficit was Rs4,132 crore with expenditure of Rs2,74,705 crore and income of just Rs2,70,573 crore. last year, the Government did not allocate money for Kanya Vidyadhan but this year Government might revive this project.
The State may not allocate additional funds for laptop distribution. “The Budget would be development oriented and is likely to include new schemes to the tune of Rs20,000 crore, the source said. Government is set to allot over Rs12,000 crore for strengthening and modernisation of police force. Over Rs20,000 crore would be allocated for power sector. A good chink of over Rs3,000 crore is expected to be sanctioned for Samajwadi Pension Scheme, the official said.
“The focus of the Government is on metro, roads and power. Besides, the Government is expected to allot Rs50,000 crore for strengthening and upkeep of infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges and development of irrigation,” the official said. lucknow is also expected to get a good share of budgetary allocation. Government is expected to sanction over Rs 2,000 crore for different projects for lucknow that varies from state-run hospitals to building infrastructure.
“Additional budgetary allocation could be made for setting up of Cancer Institute, CG City and IT city at the outskirt of the state capital. Over Rs 100 crore ix expected gor beautification of Gomti river front,” he said. Government may also earmark additional money for construction of PHCs and CHCs. Chief Minister who is also the finance minister of the state will present the budget after question hour on Tuesday.