Tamil Nadu budget 2020-21: Government to set up industrial park in Tiruvallur

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu finance minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) is presenting the state budget for 2020-21. This is the 10th budget being presented by OPS. Here are the key points from his budget speech:
* Fiscal deficit for the next financial year is to be Rs 59,346 crore which is 2.84% of GSDP. But in the present financial year the fiscal deficit is expected to be Rs 55,058 crore which 2.97% of GSDP
* In the current financial year fall in tax revenue to the extent of Rs 7,000 crore.This is due to lower GST collection and share of central tax revenue
* Tamil Nadu's growth in the next financial year is expected to be at 7.2% and tax revenue to grow at 10.5%.
* Estimated revenue for 2020-21 stands at Rs 2,19,325 crore, while expenditure stands at Rs 2,40,992 crore. Deficit stands at Rs 21,671 crore
* We are expecting dip in GST, VAT revenue due to slow down: OPS
* Rs 5 crore along with piece of land will be provided by government to set up Centre for Public Finance, a research centre by Madras School of Economics at Kotturpuram
* Tamil Nadu govt to start old age homes in districts on a pilot basis
* Tamil Nadu to allocate special funds to maintain govt offices functioning from heritage structures
* To develop Mamallpuram, an integrated plan with an estimate of Rs 563 crore submitted to central govt
* Government to set up industrial park near Ponneri in Tiruvallur district, says OPS
* Rs 1,219 crore has been allocated to fisheries department
* Rs 2,176 crore has been allocated to transport department
* Government to take over Raja Muthaiah Medical College in Annamalai University and rename it as Government Cuddalore Medical College
* Rs 5 crore allotted for Madras School of Economics to set up research centre
* Rs 11 crore has been allocated to Madras University to cope with the financial crisis
* Coronavirus: The govt has procured and stored adequate quantity of personal protective equipment kits, masks and triple-layer masks as a preparedness measure. Requisite funds will be provided for preparedness and preventive measures
* Rs 10 crore has been allocated to Coimbatore Arts College, celebrating 75 years
* Stamp duty tax has been reduced to 0.25 per cent from the earlier 1 per cent
* Rs 1,050 crore has been set aside for for students' bus pass schemes
* 550 electric buses to be procured for Chennai transport
* Chennai Outer Ring Road - Rs 263 crore has been allocated for Phase II and Phase III
* Urban transportation across cities to be streamlined, says OPS
* Rs 800 crore has been set aside for various housing schemes
* Rs 156 crore has been allocated for a new desalination plant
* Rs 1,290 crore has been allocated to fisheries department
* Rs 100 crore has been set aside for Amma Canteens to rejuvenate their functioning and opening new units near construction sites
* Rs 532 crore has been allocated for urban development
* Debt bonds to be floated for implementing certain urban schemes
* Rural roads - Rs 1,400 crore has been allocated in 2020-21, against Rs 1,200 crore last year
* 20,000 new houses to be built, including green houses, for the needy, under PM and CM housing schemes, says OPS
* Basic infrastructure projects in villages - a new scheme to be implemented to make hamlets self sustainable in street light, drinking water and education
* Rs 6,991 crore has been allocated for various irrigation projects
* Rs 610 crore has been set aside for phase II for rehabilitation of dams
* Phase I for rehabilitation of dams has been extended to June, 2020
* Rs 350 crore has been allocated for select irrigation projects
* Water resource management - Rs 300 crore has been allocated for Kudimaraamathu works
* Fisheries department - To improve communication for fishermen more mechanised boats to be fitted with transponders
* Aavin procurement increased to 33.94 lakh litres of milk per day
* Rs 6,500 crore has been set aside for food subsidy
* Rs 11,894 crore has been allocated to agriculture department
* Acreage covered under drip irrigation to be increased, stress on horticulture: OPS
* Rs 11,000 crore has been set aside for agriculture loans through cooperatives, Rs 200 crore for waiver of interest on farm loans
* Rs 100 crore has been set aside for flood management works in Chennai
* Judiciary - A little over Rs 1,400 crore has been allocated including for constructing of new court complexes
* Road Safety - 38.8 per cent reduction in deaths due to road accidents in 2019, as compared to 2018, says OPS
* Rs 8,876.57 crore has been allocated to police department, including Rs 431 crore for the construction of new buildings
* Rs 405 crore has been allocated to fire department
* A little over 10,000 police personnel were inducted into service in 2019-20. An equal number will be inducted in 2020-21, OPS says
* Rs 1,360 crore has been allocated to calamities contingency
* Compensation for deaths due to accidents and other causes increased to Rs 4 lakh
* Rs 12.21 crore has been set aside for the establishment of a world-class museum at Keeladi
* Five new districts were formed last year in Tamil Nadu. Our government is in process of identifying suitable sites for building district headquarters: OPS
* GST compensation: Centre is obliged to offset state's losses for five years. It is Centre's responsibility to find ways to implement it, says OPS
* At 4.18 per cent, Tamil Nadu got a slightly higher share of tax revenue from Centre
* Tamil Nadu achieved growth of 8.1% in 2018-19, says OPS
* OPS recalls Tamil Nadu getting good governance award from Centre
* OPS starts his budget speech with accolades for MGR and Jayalalithaa