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For the third time in a row, the BJP-led NDA government was formed at the Centre and PM Narendra Modi once again took the seat of Prime Minister. In this alliance, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) emerged as the main parties. In the first budget of the Modi 3.0 government, the government has announced aid of thousands of crores of rupees for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
While presenting the budget in Parliament, Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 26 thousand crore for Bihar and Rs 15 thousand crore for Andhra Pradesh. Making the announcement for Andhra Pradesh, Finance Minister Sitharaman said that the NDA government at the Center is fully committed to financing and early completion of the Polavaram irrigation project, which is a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers.
He said, 'Our government has made concrete efforts to fulfil the commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. We feel the need for a state capital. We will provide special financial assistance through multilateral development agencies. Rs. 15,000 crore will be given in the current financial year and additional amount will be given in the coming years.
Thanks to Nitish-Naidu
Through the budget, the Modi government has tried to woo its allies on whose basis the central government is standing. Chandrababu Naidu's party has 16 MPs and JDU has 12 MPs. Both these leaders were demanding special status for their respective states, but the Modi government refused to accept this demand on the basis of the IMG report. In such a situation, the Modi government has announced a special package to keep both its allies united. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a package of Rs 15 thousand crores for Andhra Pradesh in this financial year. Apart from this, the government has also assured to arrange additional funds in the coming years.
Finance Minister Sitharaman further said that under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, funds will be provided to promote industrial development and for essential infrastructure such as water, electricity, railways and roads for Rayalaseema, Prakasam and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Grants will also be given for backward areas.
An expenditure of over Rs. 60,000 crore was proposed for Bihar. Rs. 26,000 crore has been announced for various road projects. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the central government will arrange financial assistance to Bihar with the help of multilateral development agencies. She said the government will also set up airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in Bihar. The Centre will also bring Purvodaya Yojana for the overall development of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Other gifts given to Bihar include setting up a 2,400 MW power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district at a cost of Rs. 21,400 crore. Apart from this, the Center will also help Bihar in floods. Bihar often suffers from floods of many rivers originating from Nepal. Flood control and irrigation schemes related to Kosi will also be surveyed and investigated. The government will give Rs 11,500 crore to the state to deal with floods. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Rs 20,000 crore will be allocated for highways in the state by 2024-25.