Maharashtra sets sights on $1 trillion economy, prioritises infrastructure

The Maharashtra government is aiming to make the state a 1 trillion economy on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of making India a 5 trillion economyAdmitting that whenever the government focuses on creating infrastructure it adds to the financial burden and leads to a rise in deficit Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said ldquoWhen there is good infrastructuremdashroads airports and port infrastructuremdashone can see growth We are committed to taking Maharashtra on the growth road map and the budget is planned accordinglyrdquoAjit Pawar claimed that agriculture industries infrastructure and welfare schemes are the priority of the government and the 202526 budget was drafted keeping an eye on these sectorsAjit Pawar state finance ministerReplying to the budget discussion Ajit Pawar slammed the Opposition members for unnecessary comments on the state budget that was presented on March 10 In a veiled attack on Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray Ajit Pawar said ldquoSome termed this budget as contractor oriented Please let me know how one can complete infrastructure and development work without contractors I am unable to understand this mentalityrdquoAfter the budget discussion while addressing the media Uddhav Thackeray termed the state budget as a move to benefit contractors and a disappointment for the common manAjit Pawar even cited the example of the agriculture growth rate ldquoIn 202324 the agricultural growth rate was 33 per cent the same in 202425 was at 87 per centrdquo Ajit Pawar replied as many from the Opposition parties alleged that the government had done nothing for farmersldquoThe growth rate in the agricultural sector exhibits how rock solid the Mahayuti BJP Shiv SenaEknath Shinde camp and Ajit Pawarled NCP has stood by the farmers of the staterdquo Ajit Pawar addedReiterating that the borrowings and expenditures were well within the prescribed limits the finance minister justified the fiscal deficit and total debt stock of the state According to the 202526 budget presented in the state legislature the government is estimating a debt of Rs 932 lakh croreClaiming that there are only two ways to keep budget under controlmdashone to increase income and the other is to reduce expensesPawar stated that the government did not increase ready reckoner rates or introduce any other major taxes as it did not want to put burden on taxpayers and the common man and at the same time did not impose any curbs on development and infrastructure work ldquoFiscal discipline was kept in mind while making the budgetrdquo the finance minister addedFurther during his reply on the budget discussion Ajit Pawar gave examples of countries which were experimenting with landing of planes on seawater ldquoI have seen three runways in the seawater We too need to move along with the other countries But while doing so it is our duty to take care of the environment While ensuring growth we will make sure there is no damage to the environmentrdquo Ajit Pawar addedNagpurGoa Eway will see light of day Ajit PawarDeputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is optimistic about the Shaktipeeth Expressway NagpurGoa Eway On Monday speaking in the legislative assembly Pawar said ldquoThe Samruddhi Highway too was opposed But later everyone knows what happened those opposing the project gave their go ahead after getting high and better compensation for land I feel the same will happen with the Shaktipeeth Mahamarg toordquo The state finance minister explained how important it is for any state to have developed roads and better infrastructure for growth and better economy ldquoWhile I was in the Opposition with MVA people informed us Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil about their opposition to the Samruddhi expressway But later those opposing the project gave their consent as compensation for the land was increasedrdquo Ajit Pawar added The Shaktipeeth Mahamarg an 802kmlong sixlane NagpurGoa expressway is facing strong opposition from farmers and some locals in Kolhapur and Sangli districts