In Delhi's Green Budget, Slums Get Rs 1,500 Cr For Makeover

While staying focused on green initiatives, education and health, Finance Minister (FM) Manish Sisodia on March 22 presented the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government’s Budget of Rs 53,000 crore for financial year 2018-19. Presenting the fourth Budget of his government, the FM said there was a lot in the Budget for the poor, women, the middle class and students. 

Let us examine.

Education

With an allocation of Rs 13,997 crore or 25 per cent of the total Budget, education has been the biggest beneficiary this year. Besides announcing new curriculum in government schools, the government also plans to install CCTV cameras in all schools. Special provisions to upgrade reading and mathematics skills of students would also be taken up. To make all of these effective, Rs 15 crore has also been allocated to the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights that would evaluate and rank government educational institutions. 

Health

Budget allocation for health has gone up by 0.7 per cent and stands at Rs 6,729 crore. This also forms 12.7 per cent of the total Budget. The government has allocated Rs 100 crore for the health-insurance-for-all scheme. First response vehicle will also be launched in east Delhi with 16 bike ambulances. Also, Rs 403 crore will be spent on setting up mohalla and poly clinics in the national capital.

Infrastructure and transport

Adopting green measures, Sisodia announced that 1,000 electric buses would be launched. While authorities are undertaking construction of roads and flyovers, Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for repair and maintenance of small roads that are owned by the corporations in Delhi.

Besides, a 26-point action plan is in the making that is aimed at cutting pollution menace by 20.98 lakh metric tonne of CO2 and PM 2.5 by 503 metric tonne in the coming year. Also, real-time study of pollution and related vagaries would be undertaken to minimise the hazards. A forecast model for air pollution is also on the radar.

Very soon, a road safety fund will also turn out to be a reality and a road safety policy draft will be released soon. Besides, to encourage smooth transportation for mass use, 100 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses will also be added.

The enforcement wing of the transport department would also be strengthened while CNG-fitted private cars would be able to claim 50 per cent concession in registration charges.

A comprehensive electric vehicle policy is also in the works. Also, 905 electric feeder bus services would facilitate last-mile connectivity.

Measures are also being undertaken to incentivise industries to switch from diesel to electric generators. The government would be willing to give incentives up to Rs 1 lakh. Energy efficient street-lights would now replace the old ones on Delhi roads.

New city forests may also be developed in areas such ads Jaunapur, Ayanagar, Dera Mandi, Bela Farm, Garhi Mandu Pocket A and Alipur.

Sisodia has also said that 1,000 mw of solar and green power would be procured enabling individuals, government and private offices to put up solar panels. The government would buy power through net metering while farmers can also seek incentives to put up solar panels in farms.

By 2020, 13 lakh residents would be benefitted after the internal sewer line is installed across 162 colonies.

Meanwhile, Rs 1,500 crore will be spent for the development of unauthorised colonies for infrastructural developments. 

With inputs from Housing News