Proposing no new taxes in the Budget for Delhi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today announced subsidy of Rs 0.80 to Rs 1.20 per unit to small power consumers as also a slew of measures like low floor buses, sanitation and multi-speciality hospital in Rohini.
The Rs 36,776 crore budget for Delhi was presented in Parliament as the state is currently under the President’s rule.
Proposing the Budget for 2014-15, Jaitley said no new tax has been proposed in Delhi and added that more night shelters would be set up in the National Capital Territory area.
A multi-speciality hospital will come up in Rohini and 50 dialysis centres in the different parts of NCT. Also four new sewage treatment plants have been planned for Delhi.
The government has earmarked Rs 260 crore for power subsidy.
Following protest by Congress and opposition members over the Budget proposals, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said issues could be raised during the debate on it.
Jaitley later said he was only proposing the Budget, which would be passed after discussion.
Referring to power tariff hike, Jaitley said it was necessitated due to increase in input costs.
“However, the poor and marginalised should not suffer. I, therefore, propose power subsidy of Rs 260 crore for domestic consumers to provide relief to targeted consumers on account of increase in tariff. The modalities will be worked out by the Government of NCT of Delhi,” he said.
Considering the paucity of good health facilities under government sector in South Delhi, he also proposed sanctioning one multi-speciality hospital for South Delhi in the current year. This will be in addition to the one proposed at Rohini.
The government has also proposed to increase plan outlay under pension to senior citizens from Rs 538 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 600 crore in the current fiscal.
Jaitley said that to solve water supply problems in the capital region, construction of long pending Renuka Dam would be taken up on priority.
In order to provide better transport to the commuters, Jaitley said tenders have been floated for procurement of 1,380 semi-low floor buses for DTC.
“To provide convenience to the commuters, DTC will introduce an automated fare collection system through electronic ticketing machines and card readers. This system will subsequently be integrated with the fare collection system of Delhi Metro,” he said.
Of the Rs 36,766 crore total budget estimate, Rs 19,066 crore is non-plan expenditure.
HIGHLIGHTS
* Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presents Rs 36,776 crore Delhi budget.
* No new taxes proposed in Delhi budget: Jaitley
* Multi-speciality hospital to be opened in Rohini, Delhi; 50 dialysis centres will be opened: Jaitley.
* Community toilets to be set up in JJ clusters: Jaitley.
* More night centres will be opened in Delhi; four new sewerage treatment plants will be set up: Jaitley.
* Rs 0.80-1.20 per unit subsidy to be provided to small electricity consumers: Jaitley
* Govt provides Rs 260 crore for power subsidy in Delhi: Jaitley.
Funds for toilets, other amenities in unauthorised colonies, JJ
The BJP government at the Centre today announced plans for providing toilets and other basic amenities for people residing in JJ clusters and unauthorised colonies in the national capital.
Rs 35 crore have been allocated in the budget presented in Parliament today for building toilets in the JJ clusters, more than 100 per cent rise from Rs 17 crore in 2013-14.
“The lack of toilets not only creates health problems, but also raises concerns about safety of women. The Government of NCT will endeavour to provide toilet facilities to all slums dwellers in Delhi in the current financial year.
“I propose to increase the plan outlay for the purpose from Rs 17 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 35 crore in the current financial year,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech.
He also said that piped water facility will be provided in 50 unauthorised colonies and sewerage system will be laid in 95 unauthorised colonies. A plan of Rs 711 crore has also been allocated for providing essential services in such colonies.
An estimated 40 lakh people live in unauthorised colonies in the city.
The Finance Minister also proposed a plan outlay of Rs 215 crore for Housing and Urban Development Sector for the fiscal year.
Jaitley said that the Delhi Government is constructing about 58,064 houses for those belonging to economic weaker section under JNNURM, out of which 14,844 have been completed, adding that steps are being taken to complete the remaining houses.
Social sector gets 11.1 per cent of Rs 16,700 crore
Government today earmarked Rs 1,862 crore, around 11.1 per cent of plan outlay of 16,700 crore (excluding Centrally Sponsored Schemes) for social security and welfare sector in the Delhi budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament.
In view of the rising population of the elderly in the city, the ‘monthly aid’ of Rs 1,000 to senior citizens of 60-69 years and Rs 1,5000 to 70 years and above, the government today extended it for 4.30 lakh people.
At present 3.90 lakh people are being benefitted by the monthly aid.
Further, the government also proposed to increase the plan outlay under Pension to Senior Citizens from Rs 538 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 600 in 2014-15.
Referring to the safety and security issue of national capital, the Finance Minister said that process of recruitment of 155 women sub-inspectors and 1434 women constables is on and these women police officials are expected to join Delhi Police in 2014-15.
In the current year 8124 girls have been imparted self defence training and 4925 police officials have attended gender sensitization programme. Various initiatives have been taken to expedite investigation of crimes against women, Jaitley said.
To curb the menace of diversion of rations meant for lakhs of families which are below the poverty line and ensure transparent distribution of food grains to eligible households, 2500 fair price shops (FPS) will be computerised and daily sale from these (FPS) will be monitored online.
500 water ATMS proposed in city
With an aim of providing drinking water at an affordable price in parched areas of the city, Government today proposed to set up 500 water ATMS in the national capital.
“About 500 ATMs supported with ground water/tanker services will be set up in 2014-15,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said while presenting the Delhi Budget.
There are many parts in the National Capital Territory which do not have drinking water facilities.
“To provide drinking water facilities at an affordable price in water deficient areas, small sized decentralised drinking water Reverse Osmosis (RO) based plants will be set up and drinking water will be made available through water ATMs,” he said.
Jaitley said the government has allocated Rs 1,249 crore for water supply in the Delhi budget. However, the budget does not speak of any subsidy on water, like the one extended by the previous AAP-led government.
The minister, while presenting the Union Budget last week, has already announced Rs 50 crore for construction of Renuka Dam to end the water woes of national capital. He had also announced Rs 500 crore for water reforms for the national capital in the Union Budget.
“We will work to make the pucca channel from Munak to Haiderpur functional after resolving long pending issues with the Haryana government. This will make available 80 MGD raw water for newly constructed water treatment plants in Dwarka (40 MGS), Okhla (20 MGD) and Bawana (20 MGD) for population of about 35 lakh living in South, South-west, West and North-west parts of Delhi,” the Union Minister said.
In addition to this, the capacity of present water treatment plant and distribution system will be improved.
“This programme includes complete renovation and modernisation of Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant at a cost of Rs 2018 crore and Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant at a cost of Rs 2243 crore under externally aided projects to be partly funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency and ADB respectively,” Jaitely said.
Moily slams Delhi Budget
Congress leader M Veerappa Moily today slammed the Delhi Budget, saying it was a “shameless” exercise aimed at “garnering votes”.
“I think it is a shameless Budget because even when you do a budget it should not look as if it is just to garner votes. It is only to garner votes they have done it and so shamelessly without any hesitation,” he told reporters outside Parliament.
The Rs 36,776 crore budget for Delhi was presented in Parliament as the state is currently under President’s rule.
Proposing no new taxes in the Budget for Delhi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced subsidy of Rs 0.80 to Rs 1.20 per unit to small power consumers as also a slew of measures like low floor buses, sanitation and multi-speciality hospital in Rohini.
Moily said while sops had been given, real problems like water and electricity “had not been adequately addressed”.
“That is the real problem, the power and water problem,” Moily said, adding the government is ignorant to the problems and pain of people.
