Gujarat Congress Statement
Gujarat budget presented by the ruling BJP in the State Assembly today has washed out the hopes and expectations of people in the golden jubilee year of the state. The budget has not given any relief to people. On the other hand, it has brought a burden of Rs 730 crore on people, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Saktisinh Gohil said today while giving his reactions on the Gujarat budget.
It has imposed two percent tax on the material sold outside Gujarat. This would adversely affect traders and manufacturers of Gujarat. This would make buyers of other states to buy goods from others because of higher cost of Gujarat products, he pointed out. Similarly, he said, tax of 15 percent on the second hand vehicles would result in the burden on middle class. Tax is levied while buying the vehicle for the first time.
There is no clear concept of the welfare of people in the budget which is wrapped in the jugglery of words. Fiscal management principles require that revenue deficit should either be zero or the budget should be surplus. But this year, there is deficit of Rs 4502.02 crore which is record.
Gohil pointed out that there was no debt when BJP had come to power. However, lavish style of the present Chief Minister and non developmental expenses have resulted in debt of over Rs one lakh crore on the government treasury. Even CAG had observed that this burden should be reduced. But, it has increased to 14727.36 crore this year. This is going to prove lethal in the coming years.
Gujarat has got central aid at unprecedented scale. Chief Minister is trying to take undue credit for the increase in the allocation of plans and schemes because of the central funds. Government has claimed increase in the budgetary provisions to the extent of 25 percent. But it is quite lopsided. Needed areas are left out, he said.
In the case of SCs, there is an increase of 2.65 per cent only against overall increase of 25 per cent, Gohil said. Similarly, rural housing has an increase of 1.37 per cent only. In irrigation and flood control the increase in the layout is 1.8 per cent. Government talks about tourism promotion. But it has made provision of Rs 26 crore which is 138 crore less than that of last year.
The government can irrigate 18 lakh hectare of land without raising the height of the Narmada dam. But it is irrigating only one lakh hectare even though it claims that it is irrigating five lakh hectares. This is just because the government has not set up the network of sub canals and field channels. As a result, the excess water flows into the Sea.
FICCI – Gujarat Statement
Finance Minister of Gujarat State Shri Vajubhai Wala has presented his 15th Annual Budget which would give impetus to ‘Swarnim Growth’ of the State. The State has been front runner in spite of the global downturn, with a GSDP of 7.2% at factor cost and 11.02% at current costs. The Net Value Added by manufacturing sector grew by 28.06 percent over the previous year, which also adds to the fact.
Gujarat has continued to witness impressive industrial development. “As mentioned by the Hon’ble Minister, State has received acknowledgments of 9216 Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM) filed by entrepreneurs till September-2009 with an estimated investment of Rs. 576196 crore which has now taken the cumulative number of registered SSI units at 3.12 lakh at the end of September-2009” said Mr Param Shah, Head FICCI-Gujarat State Council.
He further mentioned, “Infrastructure in the State has been the backbone of the progress of the State. With a total of 60 SEZs approved by the Board of Approval (BOA) in Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MOCI), New Delhi in Gujarat at the end of September-2009, the total proposed investment by SEZs developers at around in the State would be Rs. 267374 crore.”
Gujarat as always leading the way in the country on the development front has attained achieved 96 percent of the targets of the GoI revised Twenty Point Programme registering 1st rank in the Country for the year 2008-09.