KL-BUDGET

Union govt "strangulating" Kerala by denying funds: Thomas
Isaac
    Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 7 (PTI) Making a scathing
attack on the Central government, Kerala Finance Minister
Thomas Issac on Friday said the BJP-led NDA government was
"strangulating" the southern state by denying funds.
    Presenting the 2020-21 budget of the Pinarayi Vijayan
led-LDF government, he alleged the centre has been "helping"
corporates rather that the common man.
    "The Centre has been strangulating Kerala by denying
funds for the state and has been moving on a self-destructive
path by corporate-friendly policies and privatisation. The GST
implementation has not been beneficial for the state," he
said.
    In the budget, Issac set aside Rs 1,000 crore for
coastal area development, Rs 1,500 crore for the public works
department, Rs 1,000 crore has been allotted for village road
projects and Rs 4,383 crore for drinking water projects in the
state.
    "The government proposes 2.5 lakh water connections in
the upcoming financial year. We will also construct one lakh
houses under Life Mission," the finance minister said.
    The budget has allocated Rs 90 crore for Pravasi
Welfare Fund and the government proposes power projects with a
capacity of 500 MW.
    "The government proposes Kochi development plan with a
fund of Rs 6,000 crore. The city will get an unified travel
card and Metro project will be extended," Issac said.
    The state government has increased all welfare pension
funds by Rs 100, allotted Rs 40 crore to paddy farmers and Rs
10 crore for startups in the state.
    The local self-governments have been allotted Rs five
crore for waste management, Rs 20 crore has been set apart for
1,000 food stalls under hunger-free Kerala, where meals will
be made available at Rs 25. PTI RRT LGK UD
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)