AAP government attacks union budget

New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) The AAP government in Delhi Saturday criticised the union budget for keeping stagnant the non-plan grant for the capital - an amount not hiked for 14 long years.

The Delhi government also said there was no mention of funds for water and power reforms in the city unlike the current fiscal when the Narendra Modi government gave Rs.500 crore and Rs.200 crore for the two sectors respectively.

"The non-plan grant in lieu of share in central taxes and duties of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has been proposed at Rs.325 crore for the coming financial year," an official statement said.

"The logic for keeping Delhi's non-plan grant stagnant since the last 14 years has not been explained till date," it said.

However, the Delhi government was allotted Rs.394.99 crore as central assistance for 2015-16, up from Rs.325 crore in the current financial year -- an increase of 21.54 percent.

"The central government has accepted the report of the 14th Finance Commission and increased the total devolution of central taxes to states from 32 to 42 percent," the statement said.

"However, in the case of Delhi, there is no increase in share of central taxes.

"The 14th Finance Commission has made a provision of Rs.6,279 crore for the coming financial year 2015-16 for a state like Haryana," it added.

The Aam Aadmi Party stormed to power in Delhi this month, sweeping 67 of the 70 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party was left with just three seats.