New Delhi: A day after snubbing Bihar over its demand for special status, the central government Tuesday announced an exhaustive list of initiatives for the state in the Union Budget, in what seems like a bid to placate the JD(U), second-largest constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
With the initiatives, the BJP is also looking to raise its political stock in the state ahead of crucial assembly polls scheduled for next year.
From the development of an Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor with an industrial node at Gaya to road connectivity projects worth Rs 26,000 crore, and financial support to the tune of Rs 11,500 crore for barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects, Bihar featured prominently in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech.
While promising “additional allocation to support capital investments” in Bihar, the minister said that requests of the state government “for external assistance from multilateral development banks will be expedited”.
The budget also had a provision to set up a new 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district at a cost of Rs 21,400 crore.
In February this year, the state government had given its approval to the coal-based thermal power plant in Bhagalpur district. The Bihar government has already acquired land worth Rs 2,000 crore for the project.
The budget also proposed the creation of a Vishnupad Temple Corridor and Mahabodhi Temple Corridor, along the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, along with the “comprehensive” development of Rajgir, which holds immense religious significance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.
Sitharaman also announced a plan for the “all-round development” of the eastern region. Termed ‘Purvodaya’, it will focus on human resource development, infrastructure and generation of economic opportunities in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
In addition, the budget also proposed development of Nalanda as a tourist centre, besides revival of the Nalanda University and the construction of new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in the state.
Nalanda is the home district of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Bihar minister and JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Choudhary told ThePrint, “Our demand has been fulfilled by the finance minister in the budget.”
“It is a day of celebration for us as the Centre has accepted our demands, put forth by Nitish Kumar. Now RJD will have nothing to say since the Centre has supported Nitish and it is his achievement,” he added.
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Infra push for Bihar
As far as Bihar is concerned, infrastructure development was a key theme of the Union Budget tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday.
According to her speech, the central government will support the development of two expressways in the state: Patna-Purnea and Buxar-Bhagalpur. It will also support development of the Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga spurs, as well as a bridge over the Ganges at Buxar.
The budget also has a provision of Rs 11,500 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and other sources, for the development of 20 ongoing projects, besides the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link.
“On the Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor, we will support development of an industrial node at Gaya. This corridor will catalyse industrial development of the eastern region. The industrial node at Gaya will also be a good model for developing our ancient centres of cultural importance into future centres of modern economy. This model shall showcase “Vikas bhi Virasat bhi” in our growth trajectory,” said Sitharaman.
‘Necessary to keep Nitish in good humour’
Reacting to the budget provision for development of flood control measures in northern Bihar, a JD(U) leader told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that it had been a long pending demand of the state government.
The issue, the leader said, is a “politically sensitive” one since the JD(U) draws most of its support from northern Bihar, which is also considered a stronghold of the RJD and has a sizable Muslim population.
“It (budget announcement) will give a boost to the JD(U) ahead of next year’s election and allow us to showcase the achievements of the government led by Nitish Kumar,” the leader added.
Training her guns at Nitish Kumar, RJD leader and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi had sought his resignation for failing to secure special status for the state despite being a part of the ruling alliance at the Centre.
During the all-party meeting Sunday, RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha had stated that the state has long demanded special status but also a distinct financial package.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh told media persons outside Parliament House that the central government has given Bihar a “super package”. The state, he said, “needed a big boost for industrial growth and employment” and that the Modi government has “fulfilled its commitment”.
“Nalanda and Rajgir are two prominent tourist destinations in Bihar which were ignored in the past and there was a need to develop these spots. Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist centre of influence recognised around the world. A push for tourism will not only boost employment prospects in Bihar but also help BJP brandish its pro-development image ahead of the assembly elections,” a general secretary of the Bihar BJP told ThePrint.
A senior Bihar BJP leader underlined that Nitish Kumar’s support is crucial for the party’s majority in the Lok Sabha. “It was necessary, politically, to keep Nitish Kumar in good humour and continue with the expansion of BJP’s narrative in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections next year.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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