Chennai: Amid much expectations, the interim budget of Tamilnadu was presented by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who also holds the Finance portfolio, today.
Panneerselvam said that the State’s debt burden which is currently at Rs 4.85 lakh crore will increase to 5.70 lakh crore.
Presenting the interim budget of the State in the Assembly today, Panneerselvam said that revenue has decreased due to the Covid impact and on the other hand expenditure has increased.
He also appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister Palaniswami-led government in bringing the Covid pandemic under control.
The Deputy Chief Minister also requested the Central Government to reduce the Cess tax on fuel.
Panneerselvam said that the revenue deficit is estimated at Rs 41,437 crore for this year.
In his budget speech Panneerselvam announced that Rs 5,000 crore has been allocated for farm loan waiver. He said that Rs 144 crore has been allocated for Amma mini clinics.
“As many as 12,000 new buses including 2,000 e-buses will be acquired at a cost of Rs 1,580 crore. The Metro Rail Project in Coimbatore has been alloted Rs 6,683 crore. Rural development department has been alloted Rs 21,218. Highways department is alloted Rs 18,750 crore. Apart from this Rs 5,478 crore is alloted for Higher Education department and Rs 34,181 crore for School education department. Computer Science will be included as a subject from Class 6 to 10 in government schools,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the government has allocated Rs 2,470 crore for the construction of 11 new medical colleges. “The State will get additional 1,650 seats,” he added.
Panneerselvam added that Rs 7,217 crore has been alloted for power sector and Rs 19,420 crore has been alloted for healthcare.
Panneerselvam also said that the Tamilnadu government will provide health insurance to 55.67 lakh families who are Below Poverty Line. He said that Rs two lakh will be given if the family head dies due to natural causes and Rs four lakh for accidental death.
Panneerselvam said that Rs 11,894 crore has been alloted for the agriculture sector and 1,02,000 crore has been allocated for government employees and pensioners.
Meanwhile, the police department was alloted Rs 9,577 crore which is Rs 691 crore higher than last year. Similarly, judiciary was alloted Rs 1,437 crore and fire department was alloted Rs 436 crore.
Panneerselvam also said that Rs 3,700 crore will be alloted under the PM housing scheme.
The Deputy Chief Minister added that the State government has set aside Rs 8,834 crore to give subsidy on power bills.
He said that Rs 6.941cr has been allocated for the Cauvery-South Vellaru river link project.