BHAGALPUR: People of Bhagalpur region have evoked mixed response to the state budget presented by finance minister and deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi in the assembly on Tuesday for the financial year 20020-21.
Residents, however, hailed the announcement of free certification to promote ‘organic farming’ which may lend support to farmers opting for organic farming in the region. Teachers and students of the Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, besides farmers expressed satisfaction over the announcement of ‘Pratibha Samman’ to promote quality researches in agriculture universities and institutions in the state.
The netizens also hailed the announcement for constructing new hostels in state-run engineering colleges, polytechniques etc besides announcement of free dialysis for patients suffering from kidney-related diseases under PM’s Free National Dialysis Programme at all the district hospitals and others.
General secretary of the Eastern Bihar Industries Association (EBIA) Alok Agarwal said that except for earlier announced Khadi Park, Handloom & Silk Bhavan, Software Park, Migratory Birds’ Ringing and Monitoring Station in Bhagalpur, which has been reiterated again, nothing specific for Bhagalpur region has been announced.
“Long-pending issues concerning Central University at Bhagalpur, archaeological excavations at Vikramshila and Karnagarh etc. do not find any mention in this budget,” lamented Agarwal adding, “Nothing much has been done to give an impetus to business of building construction and real estate. Allocation of 0.43% to industries speaks volumes about the state government’s apathy towards industrialization.”
“There are no schemes in the budget for industries related to maize, banana, sugarcane, tassar silk etc of Bhagalpur region. The state government should make region specific industrial planning and promote agro-industries besides others,” a trader associated with the silk industry said.
Source ( The Times of India)