Haryana Budget 2017-18: No fresh tax, focus on rural sector and job creation

The Haryana government on Sunday presented its budget 2017-18 which sought to raise spendings on rural sector, create durable infrastructure and boost economy and job creation, while proposing no fresh tax.

While crossing Rs one lakh crore mark for the first time, the state Budget also expressed the Manohar Lal Khattar government's commitment to build Sutlej Yamuna Link canal and allocate even Rs 1,000 crore for it, if needed.

Presenting its third budget in the golden jubilee year of the state foundation here today, the BJP-led government proposed a budget of Rs 1,02,329.35 crore with an increase of Rs 13.18 per cent over budget size of 2016-17.

While seeking to raise spendings also on welfare of Dalits and youth development, the budget presented by Finance Minister Abhimnyu in the state assembly also proposed to exempt bio diesel, solar devices and the parts used in installation of solar power projects from value added tax.

Expressing commitment to build SYL canal to get its share of waters from Ravi-Beas, the finance minister proposed to allocate an outlay of Rs 100 crore for it and assured the House that the government is willing to give even Rs 1,000 crore for it, if needed.

On the lines of the Centre, the state government too decided to dispense with the Plan and Non-Plan classification of expenditure and presented the budget in terms of revenue and capital classification, aimed at giving holistic view of sectoral allocations and optimal allocation of the resources to departments, the minister said in his budget speech.

 Among new initiatives, the finance minister announced new schemes, namely Deenbandhu Haryana Gram Uday Yojana, Mangal Nagar Vikas Yojana, creation of asset augmentation fund and a scheme to make all government payments over and above Rs 5,000 in digital mode.

Launching Deenbandhu Haryana Gram Uday Yojana scheme after late Choudhary Chhotu Ramji, the Budget, with an outlay of Rs 5,000 crore, proposed to develop about 1,500 villages with population over 3,000 and up to 10,000 by providing necessary physical, social and economic infrastructure facilities on par with the urban areas, in a phased manner within three years.

"The scheme will be funded through NABARD assistance. For 2017-18, I propose to allocate Rs 1,200 crore for this scheme," said Abhimanyu.

'Mangal Nagar Vikas Yojana,' named after late BJP leader Mangal Sen, proposed to create modern infrastructure and for maintenance of existing infrastructure in urban areas.