State Budget offers new admin building in Nagpur, Rs 1,000 cr for Gosikhurd

 

 

 

The second budget of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government in Maharashtra, presented on Monday, did not offer much of a development push to Vidarbha, compared to the slew of new announcements pertaining to Pune district and Western Maharashtra in particular. Among whatever little is in the budget for Vidarbha region are new administrative building in Nagpur, Rs 1,000 crore for Gosikhurd national irrigation project, and new Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) at Amravati.

 

As far as specific new provisions or projects for Nagpur city or district are concerned, a grand administrative building is proposed at Nagpur. Ajit Pawar, Finance Minister, announced in his budget speech that the building would be ‘befitting the stature of the city as Second Capital of Maharashtra.’ The building will come up at the cost of Rs 250 crore, but neither the site nor the other details were disclosed in the budget speech. Another specific announcement for Nagpur is setting up of Wildlife DNA Technology Centre at Forensic Science Laboratory. A substantial provision of Rs 1,000 crore has been proposed for Gosikhurd national irrigation project, which is planned to be completed by the end of December 2023. This is the most important specific allocation in the State Budget for 2021-22. In aspirational district of Gadchiroli, ‘Mohaphul’ (Mohua flower) project has been sanctioned for improvement in livelihood of tribals.

 

In case of Wardha, only passing mention was there in the budget speech. Works worth Rs 162.52 crore started last year under Sevagram Development Programme to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi ‘are in progress’ and a special programme is being organised in Wardha district to spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi, it was announced. “Necessary funds will be provided for this,” stated the budget speech. However, compared to Nagpur Division (East Vidarbha), the budget offered a better deal to Amravati (Western Vidarbha). For instance, a new GMCH is proposed at Amravati, along with Sinhudurg, Osmanabad, Nashik, Raigad, Satara, and Parbhani. With the upgradation of existing colleges and newly established ones, 1,990 seats will increase at degree level, 1,000 seats at post-graduate level, and 200 seats in super specialties.

 

The new GMCHs will be set up by adopting public private partnership policy. A state-of-the-art orange processing project is proposed at Warud-Morshi in Amravati district. However, there is a an interesting twist. Despite orange cultivation in Nagpur-Amravati belt, Citrus Estate is proposed to be set up on 62 acres of land at Paithan in Aurangabad district ‘to enhance the quality and productivity of citrus crop in Marathwada and adjoining areas’. Another announcement for Amravati is outlay of Rs 10 crore proposed for centenary of Government Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities, Amravati, for development of college infrastructure. Funds are proposed for development of Shri Kshetra Mozari in Teosa tehsil, Shri Kshetra Kaundinyapur in Teosa tehsil, and Walgaon in Amravati district. In Amravati Division, funds are proposed to be made available for completion of works in progress at Shri Kshetra Poharadevi in Manora tehsil in Washim district, where there is Samadhi of Sant Sevalal Maharaj. Funds have been assured for preservation of Lonar lake in Buldhana district.

 

Further, among eight ancient temples in the State to be conserved in the first phase of wider plan, two are from Vidarbha region. One is Anandeshwar Mandir at Lasur in Daryapur tehsil of Amravati district, and Markanda Temple in Gadchiroli districts. For all eight temples put together, however, the budgetary provision is only Rs 101 crore. Amravati and Akola found mention in the paragraph about ‘work in progress’ for expansion of runway, construction of new terminal building, and night landing facility at Belora airport in Amravati district; and land acquisition process being underway to expand the runway for large aircraft at Shivani in Akola. Apart from these, districts in Vidarbha will get benefited from general State-wide announcements viz. post-COVID Counselling and Treatment Centres to be started in every district hospital and GMCH in urban areas, Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Park at each district headquarters etc.

 

‘A balanced, pro-devpt budget’ As expected, all the prominent leaders from Vidarbha in Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government constituents namely Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena have welcomed the State Budget for 2021-22. Nana Patole, President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC); Dr Nitin Raut, Guardian Minister of district; Vijay Wadettiwar, OBC Welfare Minister; Krupal Tumane, Shiv Sena MP from Ramtek; Rajendra Mulak, District President of Congress party; Prakash Gajbhiye, former MLC and NCP leader; Salil Deshmukh, member of Nagpur Zilla Parishad; Vishal Muttemwar, Secretary of MPCC, welcomed the budget. Patole hailed the budget as the one strengthening health sector, providing boost to employment generation through projects in agriculture and infrastructure sectors. He welcomed interest-free crop loans up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers. Substantial allocation for various social segments despite decline in State’s revenue collection due to COVID-19 situation, provisions for various departments, new Government Medical College and Hospital at Amravati and other places, Rs 1,000 crore to Gosikhurd and funds for other projects, Pune Ring Road, Mumbai-Goa coastal road, Thane circular metro etc.

 

Dr Nitin Raut opined that the budget balanced the welfare of farmers, women, youth, and weaker sections. “I welcome the pro-development budget. It provides for substantial concession in electricity bill dues for agricultural pumps, and farmers will get power supply for eight hours in daytime through solar energy,” he stated. He flayed the previous Government for applications of farmers remaining pending for power connections. Now, he added, State has allocated Rs 1,500 crore to MSEDCL every year for solar energy supply to agricultural pumps. He also welcomed Rs 19,829 crore provision for loan waiver to farmers. Vijay Wadettiwar described the budget as ‘all inclusive’ and the one having provisions for various social segments. He mentioned that the State had made provision of Rs 150 crore for MahaJyoti, and Rs 100 crore for OBC Financial and Development Corporation. Also, he welcomed aid of Rs 5,624 crore granted to people affected due to Nisarg cyclone that hit Konkan, floods in East Vidarbha, and farmers affected by excessive rainfall and floods in the State between June and October. He, too, welcomed Rs 1000 crore provision for Gosikhurd project. “The budget will provide a new direction to State’s development,” stated Rajendra Mulak.

 

He welcomed the announcements for women, and healthcare sector. Fire-fighting equipment in all hospitals, cardiac ailment hospitals in eight cities, loan waiver scheme for farmers, agricultural pump connection drive, strengthening of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), food processing industry in Nashik district, Rs 200 crore for agricultural universities for research etc. Krupal Tumane also dubbed the budget as ‘all inclusive’ and the one aimed at welfare of farmers and poor. He welcomed interest-free crop loan to farmers, concession on power bill dues, new medical colleges, strengthening of APMCs, allocation for road development, CNG and electric buses as environment-friendly alternative to traditional public transport, etc. Salil Deshmukh congratulated Ajit Pawar, Finance Minister, for approving funds for country’s first broad gauge metro rail connecting Nagpur-Katol-Narkhed. Funds for administrative building at Nagpur is important, and vegetable crop research centres at tehsil level, allocation for pilgrim centre development, funds for healthcare also are important provisions, he added. The budget provides a ‘gift of Rs 23,000 crore’ for backward classes and hence it is solid and revolutionary, stated Prakash Gajbhiye. He thanked Ajit Pawar for presenting a budget with futuristic vision, focussing on women empowerment, and farmer friendly.

 

Provision of Rs 13,000 crore for irrigation projects and Rs 7,000 crore for healthcare sector come as a jolt to the Opposition, he remarked. Vishal Muttemwar said that the budget focussed on basic infrastructure. Rs 1,000 crore for Gosikhurd project from Vidarbha, interest-free crop loan to farmers, substantial allocation to education, employment generation, irrigation, road development, women, youth, etc will boost development of Maharashtra, he observed. Dinesh Bang, ZP member of NCP; Zulfikhar Bhutto, corporator; and Ramesh Moundekar, General Secretary of Vidarbha Vikas Sangharsh Samiti. 

 

‘Injustice to Vidarbha’ Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Vidarbha, and pro-Vidarbha activists said that the State Budget meted out injustice to Vidarbha. Interestingly, Dr Ashish Deshmukh, former MLA and Congress leader, questioned lowly budgetary allocation for Vidarbha region. Sudhir Mungantiwar, former Finance Minister and Chairman of Public Accounts Committee of State Legislature; Pravin Datke, MLC and BJP city chief; Girish Vyas, MLC; Krishna Khopde and Sameer Meghe, MLAs; Dr Rajiv Potdar, former District President of BJP, flayed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government over meeting out injustice to Vidarbha in budgetary allocation. Among the experts and activists Dr Kapil Chandrayan, former Expert Member of Vidarbha Development Board (VDB); Nitin Ronghe, Convener, Mahavidarbh Janjagaran; Adv Avinash Kale, Convener of Loknayak Bapuji Aney Smarak Samiti; and Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder of Green Vigil Foundation also expressed concerns over low or absent allocations for various sectors. Mungantiwar flayed the budget as ‘directionless’ and the one making mockery of the developmental aspirations of Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh regions with ‘minuscule’ provisions.

 

No financial stimulus package is offered to industries, service, real estate, manufacturing, transport, and commerce sectors reeling under crisis due to COVID-19. State’s per capita income dropped by Rs 13,346/- for the first time in 61 years but the budget does not have any welfare scheme for poor, he added. Pravin Datke rued that the budget had no special allocation for Nagpur city. Besides, budget did not offer anything to reduce rising prices, generating employment opportunities, reducing electricity bills, he said. He termed allocation for Nagpur Metro project as ‘hesitant’. “MVA has meted out injustice to Vidarbha as the region has elected more number of BJP legislators,” he added. “Nagpur district has several ministers in MVA Government, but their lack of influence is clearly visible in the budget,” remarked Krishna Khopde.

 

The budget focusses more on Pune and Mumbai, and ministers from Vidarbha have allowed it to happen, he alleged. “MPCC chief Nana Patole for reducing State taxes to reduce fuel prices in Maharashtra, but there is nothing in the budget presented by Finance Minister Ajit Pawar,” he stated. Girish Vyas alleged that the budget did not offer any relief to farmers. The promise of Rs 25,000/- aid to farmers, relief to residential electricity consumers etc have not been met with, he added. The budget is mere jugglery of figures, and there is nothing much for Vidarbha and Marathwada, said Sameer Meghe. Dr Ashish Deshmukh said that financial provision for metro rail project and major irrigation projects was made by Centre. State budget offers no financial provision for previously announced Textile Parks in Yavatmal and Buldhana. He demanded reconstitution of VDB.

 

Dr Rajiv Potdar termed the budget as ‘inadequate’ and ‘disappointing’. “It offers no relief from inflated power bills for lockdown period. 45 per cent of farmers are still deprived of loan waiver. MVA speaks of rising fuel prices but it has not offered any relief from State taxes of Rs 27/- per litre. Vidarbha and Marathwada are ignored,” he added. Compared to budget for 2019-20 during erstwhile Government led by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, there is curtailment of one per cent of funds for Vidarbha and Marathwada this time, and two per cent raise for Rest of Maharashtra, said Dr Kapil Chandrayan. “This has created a sense of loss of confidence about the MVA Government among people of Vidarbha. People of Vidarbha feel that this is the beginning of diversion of funds,” he alleged. “As expected there is nothing much in the budget for Vidarbha region,” said Nitin Ronghe. Mega electric vehicle charging centres are proposed on major highways but power for these centres will be supplied from already polluted region of Vidarbha. State Government should ensure that electricity is produced and supplied from the same district where these charging stations are located, he demanded.

 

Adv Avinash Kale stated out that there was provision of Rs 24,000 crore for Pune Ring Road on one hand, and only Rs 11,951 crore for irrigation projects in entire State of Maharashtra. According to him, substantial provision should have been made for Vainganga-Nalganga river linking project that would prove to be a boon for Vidarbha. Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation, stated that though 18 cities in State were among 124 non-attainment cities over poor air quality, State had not planned anything for environment in the budget. “Government has announced Rs 1,500 crore for rejuvenation of rivers in Mumbai but nothing for Vidarbha’s rivers. The budget is against development of Vidarbha,” he alleged.