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Delhi Budget: No new tax, focus on education, healthcare

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Mar 08 2017 | 8:07 PM IST
No new tax was introduced or hike effected in existing tax rates by AAP government in its Rs 48,000-crore budget for 2017-18 which lays major focus on education, healthcare, transport and social sectors.
The government announced slashing of VAT on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) from existing 25 per cent to one per cent for direct flights between Delhi and remote areas identified under the Centre's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
Cost of sanitary napkins, plywood, black boards, particle boards and granite are also set to come down as VAT on them has been reduced from 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent. Sanitary napkins costing up to Rs 20 will be tax free.
Presenting the budget, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said highest allocation of Rs 11,300 crore has been earmarked for the education sector followed by Rs 5,736 crore for health and Rs 5,506 crore for transport sector.
Sisodia said note ban has hit the national capital's economic growth and "forced" the city government to reduce spending on various developmental projects by about Rs 4,100 crore.
In its third Budget, the Kejriwal government abolished the plan and non-plan expenditure heads and presented it in terms of revenue and capital classification in line with the Centre's decision.

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Sisodia said this was the first "outcome budget" of Delhi and that there will be quarterly monitoring of the outcome to ensure performance.
An outlay of Rs 3,467 crore has been set aside for social welfare schemes while Urban Development department got Rs 3,113 crore.
The total financial support to local bodies in 2017-18 has been proposed at Rs 7,571 crore which is 14.9 per cent higher than the funds given in the Revised Estimates of 2016-17.
He said the Gross State Domestic Product of Delhi at current prices is likely to increase to Rs 6.22 lakh crore in 2016-17 from Rs 5.51 lakh crore in 2015-16, indicating a growth of 12.76 per cent.
"Due to demonetisation there is a negative trend seen in the economic scenario during the last four months. I have seen the commodity-wise data which reflects economic scarcity in most of the markets due to demonetisation. I think the long term effect of this will also be seen in the next fiscal,"said Sisodia.
In the health sector, Sisodia said the total number of hospital beds in all facilities run by Delhi Government will be enhanced from 10,000 to 20,000 in next 18 months.
He said the government is also working on schemes of issuing Health Card and to provide health insurance to all citizens of Delhi.
Listing a number of initiatives for education sector,
Sisodia said 24 new schools will start functioning this year while 10,000 new class rooms will be constructed in the next financial year. Construction of 8,000 new class rooms is almost complete.
On the transport sector, he said it is a priority area and government was working hard to provide last mile connectivity to commuters, besides significantly enhancing transport infrastructure. The Government has already approved Metro phase-IV comprising six corridors with the length of 104 KM.
It was also proposed to add 736 more buses under cluster scheme during the next fiscal.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Government has set a target of laying water pipeline in whole of Delhi including unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters during 2017-18.
The total budget of Rs 48,000 crore is 16.5 per cent higher than the Revised Estimates of Rs 41,200 crore in the current financial year.
Out of Rs 48,000 crore, Rs 29,500 crore has been set aside towards establishment expenses, while Rs 18,500 crore is earmarked for implementation of various schemes, programmes and capital projects.
The total tax collection has been pegged at Rs 38,700 crore while non-tax revenue is estimated at Rs 800 crore, capital receipts at Rs 400 crore.
The government also planned to receive small savings loan of Rs 2,856 crore, Rs 1,500 crore from centrally sponsored schemes, Rs 413 crore from normal central assistance, Rs 325 crore from share in Central taxes and other receipts of Rs 478 crore to fund its projects and schemes.
While no new tax was imposed or the rate of any existing ones enhanced, tax was reduced on a few items, including sanitary napkins, laminates, plywood, black boards and stones such as granite, swadeshi kota, dholpur and others to bring the rate at part with marble.
Low tax collection has remained a concern area for the government as it has failed to achieve the targeted VAT collection Rs 24,000 crore for the current financial year.
It has been revised to Rs 20,245 crore.
"GST has been approved. With its implementation from July 1, 2017 we expect a positive impact on tax revenue collection of the government. The projected tax revenue collection is based on the belief that there will be tax buoyancy on implementation of GST," said Sisodia.

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First Published: Mar 08 2017 | 8:07 PM IST

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