Ahmedabad, 10 July, 2014

Following are ‘Gujarat imprints’ in union budget, also some mentions of Gujarat in union budget and some Gujarat related announcements in budget:

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

31. Gujarat has demonstrated successfully the Rurban development model of urbanization of the rural areas , through which people living in the rural areas can get efficient civic infrastructure and associate services. Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission will be launched to deliver integrated project based infrastructure in the rural areas, which will also include development of economic activities and skill development. The preferred mode of delivery would be through PPPs while using various scheme funds for financing.

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana

32. Power is a vital input for economic growth and the Government is committed to providing 24×7 uninterrupted power supply to all homes. “Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana” for feeder separation will be launched to augment power supply to the rural areas and for strengthening sub-transmission and distribution systems. I propose to set aside a sum of Rs. 500 crore for this purpose.

37. For the welfare of the tribals “Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana” is being launched with an initial allocation of ` 100 crore.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana

44. It is a shame that while the country has emerged as a major player amongst the emerging market economies, the apathy towards girl child is still quite rampant in many parts of the country. Therefore I propose to launch Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana which will be a focused scheme which would help in generating awareness and also help in improving the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women. I propose to set aside a sum of ` 100 crore for this.

Statue of Unity

33. Government of Gujarat has embarked upon the mission to build the largest statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Sardar Patel stands as the symbol of the unity of the country. To support the Gujarat Government in this initiative to erect the Statue of Unity, I propose to set aside a sum of Rs. 200 crore .

New & Renewable Energy

118. New and Renewable energy deserves a very high priority. It is proposed to take up Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Laddakh in J&K. I have set aside a sum of Rs. 500 crores for this . We are launching a scheme for solar power driven agricultural pump sets and water pumping stations for energizing one lakh pumps. I propose to allocate a sum of Rs. 400 crores for this purpose. An additional Rs. 100 crore is set aside for the development of 1 MW Solar Parks on the banks of canals . Implementation of the Green Energy Corridor Project will be accelerated in this financial year to facilitate evacuation of renewable energy across the country.

223. Ships imported for breaking up attract basic customs duty at 5 percent. As against this, melting scrap of iron or steel attracts basic customs duty at 2.5 percent. I propose to rationalize the duty on ship breaking scrap and melting scrap of iron or steel by reducing the basic customs duty on ships imported for breaking up from 5 percent to 2.5 percent.

224. Semi-processed, half cut or broken diamonds are presently exempt from basic customs duty. As against this, cut and polished diamonds and coloured gemstones attract basic customs duty of 2 percent. To prevent mis-use and avoid assessment disputes, the basic customs duty on semi-processed, half cut or broken diamonds, cut and polished diamonds and coloured gemstones is being rationalized at 2.5 percent. To encourage exports, pre-forms of precious and semi-precious stones are being fully exempted from basic customs duty.

Textiles

107. I propose to set up a Trade Facilitation Centre and a Crafts Museum with an outlay of Rs. 50 crore to develop and promote handloom products and carry forward the rich tradition of handlooms of Varanasi, where I also intend to support a Textile mega-cluster. I also propose to set up six more Textile mega-clusters at Bareily, Lucknow, Surat, Kuttch, Bhagalpur, Mysore and one in Tamil Nadu. I am allocating a sum of Rs. 200 crore for this purpose.

Urban Transportation

68. Urban Metro Projects have proven to be very useful in decongesting large cities. For two million plus cities, planning of metro projects must begin now. Government will encourage development of metro rail systems, including light rail systems, in the PPP mode, which will be supported by the Central Government through VGF. In the current financial year, I propose to set aside a sum of Rs. 100 crore for Metro Projects in Lucknow and Ahemdabad.

Author’s note:

Rs. 100 crore is absolutely nothing when it comes to Metro projects that too in two cities.Average per KM cost of Delhi Metro is Rs 204 cr! Similarly Rs. 200 crore is not so big push to Sardar Patel statue project which is going to witness more than couple of thousand of crore expenditure. Then there’s no clarity over statue’s present status of development. But mention of this statue project assures that the project is still being taken seriously by the government beyond the elections. Relief to ship breakers will be limited to ship breakers! What is ripple effect? Any? When it comes to textile park, Surat is obvious choice whether this government or that government in power!Semi-processed, half cut or broken diamond shall now attract 2.5% basic custom duty. There was no duty on Semi-processed, half cut or broken diamond earlier and that clause was used as loophole. Gujarat is covered under ‘Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects’ along with Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Laddakh in J&K. This is again obvious as parts of Gujarat enjoy presence of sun exposure which is necessary for solar power generation. It is good that some programmes like 24 hours power supply originally conceived in Gujarat are expanded to nation.