OPS presents budget for Tamil Nadu, Opposition stages walk out
On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam presented the interim budget for 2021-22, even as the Opposition staged a walk-out since it was denied permission to speak ahead of the session. The latest budget for the poll-bound state focused on infrastructure and healthcare. OPS informed that the state's fiscal deficit crossed Rs. 1 lakh crore in 2020-21. Here are the highlights.
Economic growth pegged at 2.02%
The 7% usual economic growth took a hit in the ongoing fiscal and is expected to be just 2.02%, reports News18. This substantial dip is largely driven by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions that were imposed from March 2020. The growth expectation for the upcoming fiscal is 11.5%. As per reports, the state's tax revenue declined by nearly 18%.
As many as 62 investment projects have been given approval
OPS earmarked Rs. 6,448 crore for the Chennai-Kanyakumari industrial route project. He set aside another Rs. 3,140 crore for development projects by the Greater Chennai Corporation. The Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation was given Rs. 200 crore. A total of 62 investment projects worth Rs. 39,941 crore have been granted approval, OPS informed. Further, Rs. 1,374 crore was allocated for state-wide construction work.
OPS set aside Rs. 100 crore for Adi Dravidar community
With an eye on polls, OPS announced Rs. 100 crore for improving the residential accommodations of Adi Dravidar community members. A massive Rs. 1,932 crore was earmarked for the development of the community as well. The tribal sub-project got Rs. 1,276 crore. Moreover, Rs. 3,700 crore has been allotted for the PM Urban Housing Scheme and Rs. 34,181 crore for school education.
Tamil Nadu to get 11 new medical colleges
In his budget speech, OPS declared that Tamil Nadu would get 11 new medical colleges and additional 1,650 seats. The construction cost of these colleges is estimated to be Rs. 2,470 crore. OPS informed that Rs. 12,913 crore has been spent since the outbreak of COVID-19. In view of the raging pandemic, the state government allocated Rs. 19,420 crore for healthcare.
We will return to power, claimed OPS
Sounding the bugle for Assembly polls in his speech, OPS declared that the voters of Tamil Nadu wouldn't trust anyone other than CM E Palaniswami. "We will return to power to complete all the works and projects as listed in the interim budget," he said concluding his speech. The session will reconvene on February 25, Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal said.
