The budget proposals for 2018-19 have been finalised and frozen after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao approved the budget estimates and expenditure submitted by the Finance Department.
The budget books will be now printed for the budget session commencing on March 12 and the last full budget before the next Assembly elections is likely to be presented on March 15 with an expected outlay, in the range of ₹1.8 lakh crore.
As the Chief Minister himself revealed on various occasions, the 2018-19 budget will have the stamp of agriculture and all aspects related to farmers, crop investment support of ₹4,000 per acre, market intervention fund to ensure minimum support price to the farm produce.
In view of the comprehensive focus the government is bestowing on agriculture and irrigation, there is a separate budget for agriculture, including irrigation with an outlay of about ₹50,000 crore. The State had been allocating ₹ 25,000 crore for irrigation sector in every budget but it could see even higher allocation as first milestone of releasing water from Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project is set to be in June/July.
Higher provision
After Agriculture and Irrigation, Energy will see higher allocation. Last year Energy sector was allocated ₹4,700 crore and in the next budget it would be ₹5,000 crore plus for the smooth implementation of 24x7 power supply to agriculture and welfare schemes would get the next priority allocation.
The power demand is likely to go up for a couple of months in the agriculture season and for the rest of the year, the demand is expected to go up by 10 to 15 per cent. For such sudden spike in the agricultural season, Energy department will go for short term tenders to meet the demand and a provision will be made in the budget for this, according to sources. The health and education sectors would get allocation like that of last year.
Pay revision
There will be a token provision for the next Pay Revision due from July 1, 2018. The Pay Revision Commission is expected to be constituted only after the budget session.
Cheques to farmers
The State level Bankers Committee has decided that seven major banks, including SBI, Andhra Bank, Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Corporation Bank, will print and distribute individualised cheques to the farmers for crop investment support at ₹4,000 per acre. The major banks located in each mandal will be entrusted with the printing and distributing of the cheques in that mandal. The list of these mandal-wise banks will also be prepared by the SLBC, sources said.
