Near-Zero Allocations to Amaravati in the 2.27 Lakh Cr Budget

YSR Congress Government presented a 2.27 Lakh Crore Budget in the State Assembly. Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy presented the budget with the revenue deficit projected at Rs 1,778.52 crore, the revenue expenditure is expected to go up by 20.10 percent by the end of the 2019-20 financial year.

Very much on expected lines, the Government has totally ignored Amaravati construction in the Budget. The finance minister allocated only 500 crores for Amaravati, which will be just sufficient to pay an annuity to farmers and monthly pension to agriculture laborers. This reinforces doubts about the shifting of the Capital.

Immediately after coming to power, the State Government brought all the projects in the Capital to a Stand-still. The Manifesto of YSR Congress before the elections did not give any commitment about the State Capital. There are rumors that the government is planning to develop Donakonda instead of Amaravati.

Farmers who have given lands voluntarily to the State Government are in doldrums with the land prices on a free fall since Jagan is elected. This meager allocations in the budget very much indicate that Jagan is certainly having some other ideas but is yet to reveal them.