Nitish Kumar hails plan to make India $5 trillion economy

PATNA: Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Friday hailed the Union Budget and said the Centre’s aim to make India a $5 trillion economy is praiseworthy.
In a statement, the CM also welcomed the Centre’s ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme under which piped water will be provided to all rural households by 2024. He said it is a matter of happiness that Bihar government has already implemented ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ scheme under its ‘Saat Nishchay’ (seven resolves) programme.
Nitish also lauded the proposal of promoting electric vehicles. “It is in the interest of environment,” he said. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed an additional income tax deduction of Rs1.5 lakh on interest paid on electric vehicle loans.
The CM also lauded the proposal to expand the Swachh Bharat Mission to undertake sustainable solid waste management in every village. He also appreciated the proposals related to water conservation.
Nitish, however, cautioned the Centre against raising funds under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode for completion of railway projects and tracks. “The Union government must be careful that this proposal does not send a message among people that railways will be privatized,” he said.