Budget 2020 Expectations: What states want from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman? Check details of meeting

Budget 2020 is around the corner and parleys are on to decide what all needs to be there in the big document. According to the latest development, in a pre-budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, states have asked for more funds from the Central government to expedite infrastructure projects, raise grants to local bodies and share the burden of centrally sponsored schemes, as per a report in IANS.

Different states have raised various requests to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman putting forward their expectations with respect to Budget 2020:-

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand has asked the Centre for additional support of Rs 1,000 crore for Mahakumbh 2021 in Haridwar.

Delhi

Delhi finance minister and deputy CM Manish Sisodiya said: "From 2001, Delhi gets only Rs 325 crore from Centre... Centre should give Rs 8,150 crore to Delhi and other UTs and Municipal Corporation be given funds from the Central pool."

He also said the central government should come out with a policy on stubble burning and UP and Haryana should be given funds to subsidise farmers so as not to indulge in stubble burning.

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh industry minister Vikram Singh said the state is facing problems in infrastructure development and has sought funds for stalled railways projects and development of funds under PMGSY for roadways. "We have sought Rs 1,500 crore for roads," he said.

Himachal Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh commercial tax minister Brajendra Singh Rathod said the share of centre in centrally sponsored schemes is going down leading to stress on state finances.

Puducherry

Puducherry CM Narayan Swami said the farmers are in stress and central and told FM that burden should not be states alone. Puducherry should be at par with Delhi for devolution of funds. Central Government is lowering grant's for centrally sponsored schemes and their revamp should not be burdened on states.

Puducherry CM

Tamil Nadu deputy CM Paneer Selvam said the state government is yet to receive Rs 3,369 crore as grants to local bodies as prescribed by the 14th Finance Commission.

He asked for equal equity participation from Centre on Chennai Metro rail project.

Union Budget for 2020-21

Earlier, it was reported that Union Budget for 2020-21 may be presented on February 1 and the Economic Survey is likely to be on January 31, Finance Ministry sources said, as per IANS.

In the Economic Survey 2019 which was presented on July 4, a day before the General Budget on July 5 after the Modi government started its second innings in the government, the focus was on "What India needs to become a $10 trillion economy by 2030. India needs to spend 7-8% of its GDP on infrastructure annually to becoming a $10 trillion economy by 2030".