Arunachal budget focuses on agriculture, hikes import duty on

The Arunachal Pradesh government presented the state budget in the assembly on Monday, attaching priority to agriculture and allied sectors while proposing additional import duty on all alcoholic beverages.

Presenting the BJP government's Rs 520.98 crore deficit budget, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said thrust was given on agriculture to double farmers' income by 2022, in tune with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The rate of import duty per case of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), beer and wine was increased from the existing Rs 100 to Rs 150.

The first budget of the Pema Khandu-led government after coming to power for the second consecutive term also proposed a to bring a 'blue revolution' to enhance production and productivity of table fish and fish seed.

For this, a new programme - Mukhya Mantri Neel Kranti Abhiyan - will be launched to dig new ponds for exclusive aquaculture, revamp water logged areas, rejuvenate existing ponds, upgrade existing hatcheries, create nurseries and rearing space for seed rearing and develop backyard ornamental fish farms.

Mein who also holds the finance portfolio, said in the budget estimates of 2019-20, the government is projecting a revenue expenditure of Rs 13,406.78 crore as against the revised estimate of Rs 13,483.45 crore in 2018-19.

"We are projecting capital expenditures including loan components of Rs 8,602.19 crore for the year 2019-20 as against revised estimates of Rs 7,821.64 crore in 2018-19," he said.

The government also proposed to bring 7 lakh hectares of additional land under micro irrigation with an estimated cost of Rs 17,712 crore for wet rice cultivation.

"Under the Chief Minister's Sashkat Yojana, various horticulture crops will be covered and accordingly a fund provision of Rs 95.70 crore has been earmarked," Mein said.

For the benefit of the farmers, the government has proposed to set up markets which would be linked with e-NAM (National Agricultural Market) so that the produces could be auctioned online.

"The government also proposed to set up R&D centre for kiwi at Ziro in Lower Subansiri district and oranges at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district," he said.

A proposal has been made for construction of State Horticulture Research and Development Institute and Bio- Resource Mission in the current year.

In a Rs 5 crore scheme, the government seeks to augment the tourism sector by providing financial assistance to home stays.

"Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), we have a commitment to provide housing for all population living below poverty line by 2022. The state has a target to cover 11,221 beneficiaries under the scheme, out of which 1265 beneficiaries have been covered till now," he added.

The budget also focused on gender empowerment, development of children, social justice and inclusive development, skill development and employment generation, water security, affordable and clean energy besides governance and policy reforms.