Bihar in Poll Year to Stay in Union Budget Spotlight

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Nitish Kumar Govt Keen on Big Infra Push for Bihar in Budget

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, January 22: Bihar may once more hog the limelight in the Union Budget. Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman is set to unveil Union Budget.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is keen that the Union Budget should give a boost to long-term infrastructure requirements of the state. The Chief Minister is learnt to be keen that Sitharaman should announce a number of projects to build dams as part of the flood mitigation efforts for Bihar.

Bihar is heading for Assembly elections in October this year. Kumar has been at the helm of affairs of Bihar since 2005. But the National democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar is bracing for a challenge from the Opposition bloc, the Indian National developmental and Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

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The first Union Budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre had last year announced a number of projects for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre is now dependent on allies such as the Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for survival after losing majority in the Lok Sabha.

“Bihar has demanded construction of dams to prevent floods,” said an informed source. Bihar is perennially ravaged by floods in rivers such as Kosi, Kamla, and Gandak.

“Bihar wants Central assistance of 90 per cent for flood mitigation efforts,” added the source. The Bihar Chief Minister is not raising the demand for the special category status. But the Centre is allocating higher funds for infrastructure projects in Bihar.

“Bihar is also seeking a financial support to the tune of ₹13,000 crores for a slew of infrastructure projects. Bihar wants to build a large number of bridges and drainage systems,” added the source.

Bihar is facing an unabated spell of floods due to release of waters by Nepal. The climate change events have further raised the intensity of floods in various parts of Bihar.

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Bihar is also keen that the Centre should allow increase in the borrowing limit of the state. Bihar also wants approval for setting up a solar park.

“Bihar is also keen that the Centre should allocate a nuclear plant in the state,” said a senior official. Sitharaman in the last Budget had announced proposal for setting up a coal-based power plant in Bihar.

She had also announced two expressway road projects, besides an industrial node in Gaya. Bihar government has also been building a number of small bridges on Ganga. But some of them had been swept away in recent years.

Bihar is also raising demands for further expansion of rail networks in the state. The Chief Minister is also keen that the rail and road connectivity should be provided to backward districts.

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