SAC approves Rs 88,911-cr outlay for next fiscal

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 15

Devised to give a massive push to the public infrastructure, Rs 88,911 crore state Budget for the fiscal 2019-20 was approved by the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

Advisers to the Governor K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma; Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam; and Principal Secretary to the Governor Umang Narula were present at the specially-convened SAC meeting here on Saturday evening.

Principal Secretary, Finance, Navin K Choudhary gave a detailed presentation to the SAC on the revised estimates for 2018-19, Budget estimates for 2019-20 and other key features .

The SAC was informed that the focus of the Budget 2019-20 was to give a big push to tangible developmental initiatives with Rs 30,469 crore earmarked for building public and social infrastructure in addition to Rs 3,631 crore already provided under the ‘Languishing Projects Programme.’

According to Subrahmanyam, the Budget was structured around three fundamental objectives of building infrastructure, building institutions and building systems under the government’s mission for delivering development and mission on good governance.

He said the Budget was aimed at driving the state’s economic growth through multifarious initiatives with thrust on substantive developmental and welfare measures. He said the investment in key developmental and social sectors had been enhanced substantively to leave a visible impact on the ground.

The Chief Secretary said to build adequate capacities in the departments for spending huge developmental funds, it had been decided that the departments would be adequately strengthened by way of providing consultants, setting up of dedicated DPRpreparation cells and project implementation agencies and ITconsultants, etc.

First-ever university in Ladakh okayed

n The State Administrative Council which met here this evening under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved establishment of first-ever University in Ladakh.

n It will be a cluster university covering five colleges of Leh and Kargil districts. The university will be established with an initial grant of Rs 65 crore to be provided next fiscal.

n Establishment of the University will fulfill a longstanding demand of the people of the districts. 

n Advisers to the Governor, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam were present at the meeting

Agriculture 

• Annual allocation to the agriculture sector proposed to be enhanced by Rs 20 crore
• 50% subsidy for refrigerated vans for transportation of perishable vegetables/fruits

Education

• Rs 250 cr proposed to be allocated for upgradation of infrastructure in existing, new colleges
• Rs 100 cr to be allocated for providing benches and desks in primary and middle schools

Infrastructure

• Big push to Infrastructure — Rs 30,469 cr earmarked for investment in development sector during 2019-20
• Rs 3,631 cr additional investment in 1,643 languishing projects
• To build spending capacity, line departments to be provided funds for hiring consultants, creating DPR preparation cells, project implementation agencies, IT consultants etc

Healthcare

• Rs 350 cr proposed for completion of under-construction buildings of medical colleges, district hospitals, etc
• Rs 100 cr proposed for onetime augmentation of equipment in hospitals