Haryana govt pins high hopes on Union Budget

“Any increase in the infrastructure budget for the NCR will help improve facilities there as the state government will have more funds for such developmental activities. Though the state government is planning to undertake more such projects on public private partnership mode,the state still needs additional funds to improve such facilities,” said Sampat.

Any increase in the allocation for the social sector,too,will indirectly benefit Haryana. “The Congress government in Haryana has undertaken a number of social welfare projects in sectors like health and education,for which more funds are required. We are hoping the announcements in the Central Budget would provide more opportunities of growth in the social sector in Haryana,” said the former minister.

Finance Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav said Haryana had asked for a special package from the Centre on the lines of that given to hill states like Jammu and Kashmir,Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. “The state has been burdened by an expenditure of around Rs 6,650 crore as a result of the payments made to employees on the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. We have asked the Centre to share at least half the burden,” said Yadav.

The forthcoming goods and service tax (GST) is another issue that Haryana is expecting the Centre to take a sympathetic stand on. “Haryana is going to suffer a huge loss due to the GST. We will lose around Rs 2,800 crore annually. Therefore,we have asked the Centre for compensation. Haryana and Punjab are the food bowl of the country and should not be made to suffer,” said Yadav.

He said Haryana had declared 2011 as the Water Conservation Year and was expecting the Centre’s help in this regard. “We have high expectations from the budget. Haryana is also expecting a special package of Rs 100 crore for the development of Hisar Agricultural University,” said Yadav.