TRS MPs on Friday openly expressed their displeasure against the BJP-led government for not allocating any budget for the government’s flagship irrigation project, Kaleshwaram, and their Mission Bhagiratha, which promises safe drinking water for each household.
The MPs said that the 2019-20 budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was “pro-rich” and a “burden” on the poor. They further accused the BJP of appropriating their Mission Bhagiratha project as ‘Har Ghar Jal’ programme.
Addressing the media in New Delhi, TRS floor leader in the Parliament and Khammam MP, Nama Nageswara Rao said, “The increase of duty on gold, petrol and diesel will affect the common man. The Har Ghar Jal programme is nothing but Mission Bhagiratha, which is providing safe drinking water to each household, but it is fine. We were hoping that a developing city like Hyderabad would get something, but that didn’t happen. They have given exemptions on electric cars but a common man cannot afford it, so it’s of no use to them.”
“We anticipated a lot for our state, but that didn’t happen, so we are disappointed,” Nama added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced that the new ministry for management of water resources will ensure water to every household by 2024. This ministry will subsume the current ministries of water resources, Ganga rejuvenation, and drinking water and sanitation.
The government has also decided to increase customs duty on petrol and diesel products by Rs 1 per litre. The customs duty on gold and precious metals has also been increased from 10% to 12.5%, while the Goods and Service Tax (GST) rate on electric vehicles will be lowered from 12% to 5%. It also said that an additional Income Tax reduction of Rs 1.5 lakh would be given on interest paid on loans taken to purchase electric vehicles.
Expressing his displeasure, Zaheerabad MP, BB Patil said, “We didn’t receive any help from Central government. This budget is definitely pro-rich and against the poor. The fuel hike is definitely a burden on the people. The exemptions on GST and other taxes to electric vehicles are a welcome as they would prevent further pollution. However, the overall budget does not benefit Telangana.”
Medak MP, Kotha Prabhakar Reddy said, “The budget is certainly disappointing. Though NITI Aayog proposed to grant Rs 26,000 crore for Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya, there was no mention of it in the budget. People were hoping that the government will reduce the slab on income tax that too didn’t happen.”