Union Budget disappointing: Etela Rajender

The Union Budget 2018-19 does not meet the expectations of the young State of Telangana, and has turned out to be a disappointment for the people of the State. Finance Minister Etela Rajender felt that though it could have been better, the Union Budget did complement the priority projects of the State government. He hoped for a better deal for Telangana while making specific allocations to States.

The Telangana government submitted a wish-list to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking Central fund of Rs 34,000 crore towards the State schemes like Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya and Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. It had also sought integrated steel factory at Bayyaram, tribal and horticulture



universities, and funds for AIIMS under provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. 

However, none of these demands were mentioned by the Union Finance Minister during his budget speech in Parliament on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat on Thursday, Finance Minister Etela Rajender said the budget could have been better with specific allocations for Telangana as per the representation submitted to the Central government. “The only relief for us is that the budget complemented the State government’s priority schemes especially agriculture and allied sectors. Budget allocations for improving healthcare is also encouraging,” he said.