25 Key Highlights Of Odisha Budget 2020; Stress On Agri Research, Disaster Mgmt & Tourism

Bhubaneswar: Finance Minister Niranjan Puri presented the e-budget 2020 in the Odisha assembly on Tuesday.

Here are 25 key highlights of the annual budget for 2020-21:

— Agriculture and allied sectors gets maximum allocation in Budget 2020-21, followed by Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department and School and Mass Education Department

— Odisha’s Agriculture Budget has been pegged at Rs 19,408 crore.

— ‘Samruddha Krishi Niti-2020’ proposed to increase income of farmers.

— A record Rs 150 crore proposed for agricultural research, education and infrastructure, which is five times more than last year’s allocation. Rs 150 crore has been allocated to transform the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology into a world-class centre of excellence. This announcement follows the surprise visit of 5T Secretary V K Pandian to the varsity on Monday.

— As per revised estimate of 2019-20, there will be a revenue surplus of Rs 6,175 crore and fiscal deficit has been estimated to be at 3.4 per cent of GSDP

— Odisha’s growth rate is expected to be 7-7.5 per cent in FY20-21. Last fiscal, the growth rate was 6.16 per cent compared to national growth rate of 5 per cent.

— The state government has targeted to earn Rs 1 ,24,300 crore revenue in FY20-21.

— An increase in MLA LAD fund from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 crore. Rs 2 crore will be provided for overall development, Rs 50 lakh for road construction and the remaining Rs 50 lakh will be utilised for education-related infra development.

— Rs 7,700 crore has been allocated for the health sector. A special centre will be set up in Jharsuguda under the proposed Odisha Cardiac Care Programme in PPP mode. The MCL will provide Rs 75 cr for the project.

— Rs 578 crore allocated in the budget under Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Seva Mission for building healthcare infrastructure and services.

— Rs 562 crore allocated for Medical colleges.

—  A whopping Rs 3200 crore has been allocated for disaster management.

— An innovation tower is proposed to be constructed at Bhubaneswar at a cost of Rs 59 crore for growth of IT sector.

— Rs 301 crore allocated for sports and youth services that includes Rs 140 crore for sports infrastructure and Rs 91 crore for sports education

— Rs 284 crore will be spent for creation of world class industrial infrastructure

— The Odisha government has proposed a new directorate Archeology to take up preservation activities of heritage sites in a professional manner.

— An amount of Rs 80 crore has been proposed for Bay Area Development in Shamuka Beach in Puri, which will have world-class infrastructure.

— New scheme proposed under Works Department for development of heritage sites including Samaleswari temple, Hirakud dam and other potential places and old monuments.

— Rs 150 crore earmarked under Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action plan for 2020-21

— Rs 695 crore earmarked under ABADHA for development of Puri into world-class heritage city

— An amount of Rs 70 crore has been provided to IPICOL for successful organisation of Make in Odisha Conclave 2020.

— Rs 33 crore allocated for establishment of 24 fast track courts and for 21 temporary fast track courts.

— Rs 400 crore allocated as state share for Khurda Road-Balangir, Jeypore-Malkangiri and Jeypore-Nabarangpur rail line.

— MGNREGA corpus fund enhanced from Rs 300 to Rs 500 crore to provide timely payment to workers.

— It is the first state in the country to introduce a document on ‘Climate Budget’ to provide a brief account of tracking climate public expenditure and documents on ‘Gender Budget’ and ‘Child Budget’.