Budget disappointed Odisha: CM

Bhubaneswar, Feb 28 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday slammed the union budget, saying it disappointed and neglected his state.

"As regards Odisha, I am deeply disappointed both with the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and the union budget," he said.

Patnaik said that while the budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley indicates a focus on rapid development of eastern states and special assistance for Bihar and West Bengal, Odisha was completed neglected.

"Our state faced two of the worst calamities in the last two years consecutively in the form of Phailin and Hudhud. At least on these scores, Odisha deserves special focus. I am shocked that this fact has been completely overlooked in the union budget despite our repeated demands," he said.

Patnaik said the share of Odisha in tax devolution from 4.78 percent to 4.6 percent will involve a loss of about Rs.4,600 crore over a period of five years.

"Our fiscal discipline has been much better than most of the other states and now we are being penalised because of our good performance in fiscal discipline and population stabilisation initiatives," he said.

Even though there has been focus on irrigation and agriculture in the budget, the allocation towards crucial sectors was abysmally low, he said.

Odisha Congress president Prasad Harichandan said the budget had nothing for Odisha.

"The budget is against the interest of people and the state. There is no special allocation for the state while other states were given special preference," he said.

Odisha BJP president K.V. Singhdeo, however, said the budget was an innovative pro-poor, development oriented, growth driven with special emphasis on women, children, youth and senior citizens.

"This budget brings in a paradigm shift introducing the idea of social security with rebates, concessions and allocations in insurance, pensions, ICDS etc. Public spending on infrastructure has been increased. The tax reforms leave the consumer with more disposable income thus incentivizing him to spend," said Singhdeo.