The Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday presented a Rs.1.32 lakh crore Budget or the financial year 2015-16 which aims to realize a dream of ‘Make in Madhya Pradesh’ by increasing job opportunities for the youth and increasing production capacities in the State’s economy.
A key feature of the bdget is that it envisages implementation of road projects worth Rs.33,000 crore under public-private partnership and provision of Rs. 9,704 crore for the energy department and Rs. 1,748 crore for irrigation works.
Further, it envisions preparation of development plans for 14 cities, targets to provide 5 lakh houses in various cities by 2018 and start a e-nagar palika project to promote e-governance in urban bodies. The budget provides for an allocation of Rs. 6,550 crore in 2015-16 for infrastructure, self-employment and other developmental activities in urban areas which is Rs. 415 crore more than the budget provision made last year.
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Presenting the BJP Government’s 12th consecutive Budget, Finance Minister Jayant Mallaya also proposed to reduce value added tax (VAT) on 40 items to five per cent from 13 per cent. These include baby diapers, battery-operated cars, rickshaws, school bags, calculators, ladies bags, purses and vanity bags, and induction stoves and aluminium composite panels.
In addition, VAT on aviation fuel is proposed to be brought down to four per cent from 13 per cent with a view to give to give a boost to aviation activities in the State.