Maharashtra budget lacks vision, no focus on growth: AAP

Mumbai: Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday said that the Maharashtra budget lacks long-term vision and fails to put forward a well-defined road map for the recovery of the economy of the state. [caption id=“attachment_2162685” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AAP leaders at a press conference. Shruti Dhapola/Firstpost[/caption] “The economic survey report for Maharashtra tabled in the Assembly stated that agricultural growth is projected to be a dismal – 12.3 per cent and manufacturing is also down to a mere 0.5 pc. The report also stated that Maharashtra’s public debt has reached a staggering Rs 3,00,477 crore. “In the context of this report, with both agriculture and industry slowing down, AAP had expected the government to come up with a budget that would bring a clear vision towards re-establishing Maharashtra as a pre-eminent state as regards economic growth and industrial output,” an AAP spokesperson said in a statement here. “We welcome the Maharashtra government’s initiative to curb the deficit to 3,357 crore but it may be recalled that the previous government had predicted a similar amount last year though the actual deficit had ballooned to 13,883 crore, which begs the question as to what the concrete and specific measures are that this government is taking to ensure fiscal discipline. “AAP was also disappointed that this budget lacked focus on job creation, promoting small and medium enterprise, thereby failing the aspirational youth of the state. “We welcome the lowering of rates for electricity, which is something that the AAP government has done in Delhi, acknowledging the high input cost of power and the burden on consumers due to wholesale profiteering by ‘Discoms’. We would urge the government to audit discoms and further slash electricity rates just as the AAP government has demonstrated so successfully. “AAP also welcomes the government decision to abolish LBT (local body tax), something which AAP has vociferously opposed. Mobilisation of revenue by enhanced premium on additional FSI is interesting but unclear as to its impact on affordable housing in cities. “Increase of excise duty on country liquor to 200 pc is welcome but it is important to understand whether the intention of the government was to merely increase revenue or curtail the consumption of liquor and the results of alcoholism which have wrecked havoc among countless families in the state,” it said. PTI