A few months ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today presented the first supplementary budget for completion of ongoing infrastructure projects.
The ruling Samajwadi Party has made development its main plank for the Assembly polls scheduled early next year and is trying hard to project the state as an industrial hub.
The Rs 25,347.87-crore budget earmarked Rs 800 crore for acquiring land for the proposed 'Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway' project.
Making it appear like an election-oriented budget, Yadav, who also holds the finance portfolio, sought Rs 200 crore for the information department to publicise the schemes and projects of the state government.
He sought Rs 100 crore for setting up a perfume park and a museum in Kannauj, represented by Dimple Yadav, MP and wife of Akhilesh.
An amount of Rs 307 crore has been set aside for tourist spots, Rs 100 crore for development of small airstrips, Rs 30 crore for beautification and development of Tajganj area, Rs 50 crore for setting up Mughal museum at Agra and Rs 25 crore for Taj orientation centre.
It also proposed Rs 15.29 crore for renovation of Jawaharbagh park in Mathura, which was in news for violent clashes during an anti-encroachment drive in which two police officers were killed.
The government has sought Rs 3,320 crore for Public Works Department and Rs 2,000 crore for farmers hit by hailstorm and natural calamity.
An additional allocation of Rs 85 crore has been made for farmers' accident insurance scheme.
An amount of Rs 15 has been earmarked for the 'Model Charkha' scheme for the weavers belonging to the SC and ST communities in Bundelkhand region.
It also proposed Rs 500 crore under the Rapid Action Programme for region.
The government has proposed Rs 260 crore for various
schemes under the women and child welfare department, including Rs 252 crore for "Hausla Paushan" scheme for undernourished children and pregnant women.
As per the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission, a basic grant of Rs 1,921 crore has been sought for gram panchayats. Minority welfare gets Rs 155 crore.
Rs 120 crore will be spent on constructing an international cricket stadium in Safai, the native place of SP supremo Mulayam Singh. For setting up a carpet mart in Bhadohi, Rs 64 crore has been sought.
The government has sought Rs 3,674 crore for basic education. The amount will be used for free textbooks and school bags for students of Class I to VIII, among others.
Rs 125 crore has been allocated for the government's ambitious 'dial 100' project. Under it, in case of emergency, a person can communicate with the Dial 100 call centre through phone, texts or any other communication method and in turn will be provided immediate relief and police help.
Rs 30 crore has been proposed for Lion Safari in Saifai and Rs 20 crore for cruise boats on Gomti river.
Besides, a token amount of Rs 25 lakh has been proposed for the one-member Gumnami Baba Commission, set up in June to probe the identity of 'Gumnami Baba', who is considered by many as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in disguise.
