Terming the Budget allocation to Chandigarh as an utter
disappointment, former Member of Parliament, Pawan Kumar Bansal has
said that it is indeed amusing to hear that the budget reflects the
government’s commitment to foster comprehensive development, address
crucial sectors and enhance the overall wellbeing of the residents of Union
Territory.
Bansal said that to cite the overall hike as a boost for Union
Territory is illusory and only a mirage because the Capital Outlay (earlier
call plan expenditure) has been cut by as much as 9.2%, which would have
a telling effect on all developmental works in the city. There is increase
only in the Revenue Outlay (nonplan expenditure) which the government
is obligated to spend on salaries and maintenance costs etc. No new
development work or creation of infrastructure and assets will be possible,
putting a stop to starting of any new college or school or even upgrade a
school to meet the growing needs of the children of Chandigarh Under the
Right Education Act, Bansal added. The ambitious plan to make the city
slum free, already put on the back burner for the last 10 years will be
forsaken, he said.
Further, the grant-in-aid of only Rs. 560 crores to Municipal
Corporation against a genuine demand of Rs. 1,651 crores is a cruel joke
with the Municipal Corporation which is entitled to have an appropriate
share of the UT’s budget to discharge its various functions under the
Constitution. This will directly result in levy of higher taxes by the
Municipal Corporation, Bansal said.
