For a change, there were not many freebies in the Tamil Nadu state budget presented in the Assembly today by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam,
The revenue deficit is estimated to be Rs. 14,315 crore in 2019-20, lower than Rs. 19,319 crore in revised budget estimate for 2018-19.
Rs. 82,673.22 crore has been allocated for various welfare schemes in 2019-20.
The stamp duty for transfer of property on account of amalgamation or reconstruction of companies will be fixed at 2% of the market value of the immovable property or 0.6% of the aggregate of the market value of shares, whichever is higher.
To ease the ever-increasing traffic in Chennai city, a comprehensive Integrated Parking Management project is to be implemented at a cost of Rs.2,000 crore to accommodate two lakh four wheelers and two lakh two-wheelers.
After the Gaja cyclone in the worst affected areas, one lakh concrete houses will be built at a cost of Rs.1,700 crore.
The budget proposes an Arts and Science College in the name of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his home town of Rameswaram. And a further grant of Rs. 2,681 crore allocated for extension of Chennai Metro Rail project.
The only freebie visible on the budget is the announcement that 3000 scooters will provide for differently-abled persons.
To promote organic farming, Organic Certification Centres are to be set up in all districts.
Government also proposes to distribute 240 units of Navic, 160 units Isat-2 satellite phones and 160 units of Navtex instruments to 80 clusters of deep sea fishing boats.
The government proposes to purchase 2,000 electric buses and would be introducing 500 electric buses in Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore.
The state govt has earmarked Rs 25 crore to support NGOs for starting new schools in interior tribal areas for the benefit of tribal students.
The government would also set up a "center of excellence" under TNeGA to harness artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning, drones, and IoT.
A comprehensive solid waste management project for the Greater Chennai Corporation has been prepared. Remediation and reclamation of Kodungaiyur and Perungudi landfills under PPP mode along with setting up of waste to energy plants are under consideration.