Lukewarm response to State Budget in Kozhikode
The Hindu
Kozhikode trade bodies welcome State Budget, praising allocations for various sectors, while expressing concerns about funding sources and neglect.
Trade bodies in Kozhikode have welcomed the State Budget presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on Friday (February 7), though they have raised complaints regarding some allocations or lack thereof.
The Malabar Development Council commented that the Budget was a realistic one considering the financial constraints of the State. It is beneficial for small and medium enterprises, industries, agriculture, coir, cashew, education, health, transport and tourism sectors. North Kerala has been given due consideration.
The Council welcomed allocations for welfare and development such as those for dredging the Beypore port, Kozhikode metro project, city development project, ₹750 crore for rehabilitation of landslide victims in Wayanad, ₹3,061 crore for roads and bridges and inland water transportation, ₹500 crore for Vizhinjam-Beypore water route, and ₹800 crore for the Karunya scheme.
However, the Council expressed apprehension about many of these projects materialising without financial aid from the Centre and whether fund-raising attempts such as court fees and land tax were enough.
Meanwhile, the Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry appreciated the allocation for the port, which had been its long pending demand. It welcomed proposals for the metro rail as well as the high-speed rail corridor.
The proposal to develop Kozhikode as a health-education-tourism hub is also another long-pending demand of the Chamber that has been duly considered in the Budget. However, it flayed the increase in land tax and neglect of the construction sector.
Meanwhile, teachers under the aegis of the Kerala School Teachers’ Union protested against the Budget on the grounds that it cheated out teachers and government employees. Union State general secretary Kallur Mohammedali, who inaugurated the protest, warned of stronger protest measures if the government continued its current attitude towards pay revision and DA arrears.
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