Delhi Assembly on Monday passed the budget 2013-14, which was presented on 19 March in the Vidhan Sabha.
As Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was ill, Delhi health minister A K Walia took over the debate and claimed that while giving final touches to the budget proposals, the government has taken care of all sections of the society. Meanwhile, the opposition boycotted the Assembly, demanding that the Delhi government must give priority to hiked tariffs of power and water.
Walia described the budget as a forward looking one that would go a long way in accelerating the pace of progress and prosperity. Walia stated that for the first time in the country, a tax-free budget has been presented. He refuted the allegations of the opposition that the government has presented an election budget.
According to him, ‘It is just a budget presented in an election year. The government has not levied any fresh tax and there has been no hike in any tax. While taking the ground realities into consideration, the government has merely decreased VAT on number of items.’
He further added that the government gave more importance to the social sector services; it received the highest priority in terms of budgetary allocation under plan and an outlay of Rs 10,359 crore with a share of about 65 per cent of total plan budget. The differently-abled persons and women in distress will get a pension of Rs 1,500 per month. For the first time, a fund of Rs 5 crore has been kept for the welfare of journalists. The government would procure 100 more ambulances in 2013-14.
The Delhi government has also decided to commence the construction of seven new hospitals and nine new dispensaries during 2013-14. Further, the income limit of the persons eligible to get financial benefit under Dilli Arogya Kosh has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Financial assistances to be provided to the needy persons for cancer treatment, organ transplant and cardiac intervention in recognised private hospitals with the relaxed norms.
Walia stated that the government increased the subsidy on gas cylinders to nine and further 12 in January to all BPL/AAY/JRC cardholders. Also, according to him, the slow pace of expenditure in the first nine months of the financial year is only because of delay in taking decisions by the three municipal corporations. The corporations, he said, had to sanction layout and building plan, which took some time time resulting in undue delay.
Walia also refuted the allegation levelled by the opposition that the city government is liberal in opening liquor shops. The number of liquor shops per lakh population in Delhi is low, he said, when compared to other metropolitan cities. The figure for Delhi is 3.8 shops against one lakh population whereas for Gurgaon it is 19.28, for NOIDA it is 34.26, Chennai it is 28, Chandigarh it is 14, Hyderabad 11 and Bangalore 7.
Walia also said the whole of Delhi is getting potable water. Nearly 81 per cent of Delhi is getting piped water supply whereas tankers are being used to supply drinking water in the rest of the colonies.
Walia also pointed out chief minister’s significant announcement in the house to provide big relief to domestic DJB consumers. The accumulated late payment surcharge have been totally waived off and the consumers have been given permission to make payment of actual consumption charges in six installments up to 31 March 2014. While referring to the power situation, Walia stated that Delhi is the only state where 24x7 electricity is being ensured. Further, for persons who are consuming less than 200 units, are getting a huge subsidy.
As Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was ill, Delhi health minister A K Walia took over the debate and claimed that while giving final touches to the budget proposals, the government has taken care of all sections of the society. Meanwhile, the opposition boycotted the Assembly, demanding that the Delhi government must give priority to hiked tariffs of power and water.
Walia described the budget as a forward looking one that would go a long way in accelerating the pace of progress and prosperity. Walia stated that for the first time in the country, a tax-free budget has been presented. He refuted the allegations of the opposition that the government has presented an election budget.
According to him, ‘It is just a budget presented in an election year. The government has not levied any fresh tax and there has been no hike in any tax. While taking the ground realities into consideration, the government has merely decreased VAT on number of items.’
He further added that the government gave more importance to the social sector services; it received the highest priority in terms of budgetary allocation under plan and an outlay of Rs 10,359 crore with a share of about 65 per cent of total plan budget. The differently-abled persons and women in distress will get a pension of Rs 1,500 per month. For the first time, a fund of Rs 5 crore has been kept for the welfare of journalists. The government would procure 100 more ambulances in 2013-14.
The Delhi government has also decided to commence the construction of seven new hospitals and nine new dispensaries during 2013-14. Further, the income limit of the persons eligible to get financial benefit under Dilli Arogya Kosh has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Financial assistances to be provided to the needy persons for cancer treatment, organ transplant and cardiac intervention in recognised private hospitals with the relaxed norms.
Walia stated that the government increased the subsidy on gas cylinders to nine and further 12 in January to all BPL/AAY/JRC cardholders. Also, according to him, the slow pace of expenditure in the first nine months of the financial year is only because of delay in taking decisions by the three municipal corporations. The corporations, he said, had to sanction layout and building plan, which took some time time resulting in undue delay.
Walia also refuted the allegation levelled by the opposition that the city government is liberal in opening liquor shops. The number of liquor shops per lakh population in Delhi is low, he said, when compared to other metropolitan cities. The figure for Delhi is 3.8 shops against one lakh population whereas for Gurgaon it is 19.28, for NOIDA it is 34.26, Chennai it is 28, Chandigarh it is 14, Hyderabad 11 and Bangalore 7.
Walia also said the whole of Delhi is getting potable water. Nearly 81 per cent of Delhi is getting piped water supply whereas tankers are being used to supply drinking water in the rest of the colonies.
Walia also pointed out chief minister’s significant announcement in the house to provide big relief to domestic DJB consumers. The accumulated late payment surcharge have been totally waived off and the consumers have been given permission to make payment of actual consumption charges in six installments up to 31 March 2014. While referring to the power situation, Walia stated that Delhi is the only state where 24x7 electricity is being ensured. Further, for persons who are consuming less than 200 units, are getting a huge subsidy.