Mangaluru: Chief Whip in the Council Ivan D’Souza, MLA J R Lobo and former MUDA chairman and Dakshina Kananda Interim Congress President Ibrahim Kodijal justified the State Budget-2017 presented by state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during separate press meets in the city on March 18.
Defending the budget all the three leaders explained about the importance given to farmers, backward classes and minorities by the Congress government.
They highlighted the budgetary allocation to the coastal region which include Rs 100 Crore for Pashchima Vahini project, mainly towards construction of vented dams to increase ground water level in the region, particularly to offset the water deficit caused by Yettinahole project.
Allocation of Rs 10 Crore towards Cashew Development Board, Beary Study Centre in Manglore University, separate paediatric unit at Wenlock hospital in line with Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, Bengaluru, Rs 10 Crore for Wenlock Hospital upgradation are the other important benefits they explained.
An amount of Rs 10 Crore towards construction of new Haj Bhavan and formation of five new taluks-Moodabidri, Kadaba, Brahmavar, Baindoor and Kapu to facilitate decentralization are among the significant provisions in the budget , they added.
Talking of infrastructure, Rs 50 Crore towards development of 2.5 Km road stretch leading to Mangaluru International Airport and acquisition of 286 acre land for the extension of airport and developing basic infrastructure are the noteworthy allocations in the budget, they revealed.
Annual National Surfing Festival in Sasihitlu beach to promote tourism, completion of planetarium at Pilikula at Rs 35.69 Crore, solar panel installation in District Court premises linked to MESCOM indicate the resolve of the state government to support tourism and science, they stated.
New regional transport office in Bantwal and Rs 20 Crore allocation to Coastal Development Authority will help people in the region, they said.
In addition to the above, the leaders highlighted higher budgetary allocation to backward classes, schedules castes and tribes, minorities, agriculture and rural development during the present Congress regime when compared to the earlier BJP regime.
Ivan D’souza also said, “The state loan’s share is 18.93 percent of the overall state GDP which is below the permissible limit of 25 percent. This apart, the revenue deficit is 2.6 percent well within the permissible limit of 3 percent. The expected balance will be around Rs 137 Crore compared to Rs 522 Crore during the previous financial year.”
Based on the recommendation of MLC Ivan D’Souza, Rs 2.25 Lakh compensation amount from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund was distributed among five different beneficiaries suffering from various diseases.
The leaders also mentioned about the concerted efforts to start Namma Canteens in all the 67 wards of Mangaluru City Corporation where breakfast will be provided at Rs 5 and lunch at Rs 10. Efforts are on to establish a separate corporation for NRI’s belonging to minority communities and Areca Development Board, they added.
They assured of urging the government to take measures to fulfill the pending demands of the people in the region in the near future.
Ivan D’souza further said under the Bhagyajothi scheme, electricity consumption has been increased to 40 units from existing 15 units. In addition, the monthly remuneration of cooks under mid-day meal scheme has been increased by Rs 1000.
Meanwhile, he urged the state government to name Hebri as a new taluk.
Terming the budget as historic, MLA Lobo said by solving Neera tapping problem, the long standing issue of the coastal region had been solved and thanked the chief minister for allocating separate funds for Indians returning from gulf region unemployed.
Developing Mangalore fishing harbour in line with Malpe harbour is listed among the other important developmental priorities along with ring road development, he said adding that funds had been allocated for desalination of sea water to meet the drinking water and agricultural needs and for the development of IT park. Lobo congratulated the chief minister for presenting an excellent budget while fulfilling the demands of coastal people.
Mayor Kavitha Sanil, local congress leaders and Congress corporators were present.
