Bhubaneswar: Governor Ganeshi Lal on Friday addressed the Odisha Legislative Assembly marking the beginning of the Budget Session. The Governor addressed the achievements of the State Government and underlined the benefits of the Government’s fast-paced strategy to ensure holistic development.
Here is a look at some of the highlights from Governor’s customary address in the House
- During 2020-21, my Government proposes to bring about 1.84 lakh hectares of cultivable land under irrigation coverage.
- A sum of Rs 1407.48 crore has been proposed to be awarded as scholarships to over 24 lakh students under pre/post metric scholarship during 2020-21.
- Under MLALADs, Rs 1957.36 crore has been spent so far while 2,75,836 projects completed.
- My Government is committed to increase investment in priority sector within prudent fiscal norms & at the same time, it is capable of increasing capital investment to about 5% of GSDP.
- The Debt-GSDP ratio has been brought down from 50.7% in 2002-03 to 16.8% in 2018-19. The interest payment to revenue receipt ratio has been brought down from 40.2% in 2001-02 to 5.8% in 2018-19.
- During 2019-20, as many as 9230 km rural roads and 275 bridges on rural roads are to be completed through Biju Setu Yojana, RIDF, PMGSY and MMSY.
- My Government proposes to complete another 250 bridges and 2542 km of rural roads under different schemes during 2020-21.
- My Government envisages the development of tourism infrastructure in 4 identified mega-projects, 13 priority destinations and basic infrastructure in other important tourist locations.
- To boost niche tourism in Odisha, my Government has planned to include developing water infrastructure for houseboat operations at various locations.
- New Odisha will be driven by technology. The keenness of my Government to use technology to positively impact the lives of people of Odisha, to leverage technology in solving problems will be the foremost intervention of my govt in our endeavour for people-centric governance.
- The countdown for the 3rd edition of the Make in Odisha 2020 has already begun and the event is scheduled to be held from November 30 to December 4, 2020.
- Aiming at facilitation for a research-innovation culture at higher education institutes, my Government has envisaged a new scheme called the ‘Odisha University Research & Innovation Incentivizaton Plan.