Union Budget 2025: Kerala remains hopeful of a better deal this time
The Hindu
Kerala's wish-list for 2025-26 Union Budget includes special economic package, assistance for Wayanad, Vizhinjam seaport, and climate initiatives.
With Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to present the 2025-26 Union Budget on Saturday (February 1, 2025), Kerala is eyeing fiscal prop-ups, including a renewed demand for a ₹24,000-crore special economic package, “to tide over the current liquidity stress.”
The southern State is eyeing – among other things – a ₹2,000-crore package for landslide-hit Wayanad, a special package for the Vizhinjam seaport project and a ₹1,000-crore special assistance for managing rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict.
Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said here on Monday (January 27, 2025) that the State government was hopeful about the special economic package — a demand that remains unfulfilled though featuring high in the State’s 2024-25 Budget wish-list as well.
“Last time (2024-25 Budget), two States – Andhra Pradesh and Bihar – were provided special packages,” he pointed out. Kerala has in fact reiterated its demand for the special economic package observing that “it did not receive the attention it deserves” in Ms. Sitharaman’s previous Budget, he said.
In the case of the Vizhinjam seaport project, Kerala is eyeing ₹5,000-crore special assistance and also an urgent shift in the Centre’s stance on a ₹817.8 crore viability gap funding (VGF), which the Centre wants to be repaid in net value.
Other demands include a ₹4,500-crore allocation for undertaking climate change-related initiatives, a ₹2,000-crore package for the rehabilitation process in landslide-hit Wayanad and a ₹1,000-crore special assistance for tackling human-wildlife conflict.
“The number of human deaths caused by wild animal attacks was 52 in 2021-22 and 184 in 2023-24. The extent of crop damage due to human-animal interface is rising at an annual rate of 49%,” Mr. Balagopal had informed the Centre at a pre-Budget consultation organised by Ms. Sitharaman in December, 2024.
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