GANDHINAGAR: In the Gujarat State Budget 2022-2023 presented by Kanubhai Desai, Minister of Finance, Government of Gujarat, the budget allocation for development of urban infrastructure has gone up by 19%.
Gujarat spends 6% of its budget on urban development which is amongst the highest in the country. This year, the budget allocation has been stepped up to Rs 12,639 crore, a third of which will go towards Swarnim Jayanti Mukhymantri Shehri Vikas Yojana (SJMSVY). This scheme provides amenities to urban areas like water works, sewage works, construction of sewage treatment plants, etc. The program is intended for provision of infrastructure facilities in municipal corporations, municipalities and urban authorities.
Since the octroi tax was merged with GST, urban local bodies have been provided with octroi compensation by the state government, which has also gone up this year by 10% from Rs 426.7 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 468.1 crore.
Many other schemes and subsidies were also announced including a program to provide nutritional supplements and free pulses and edible oils for pregnant mothers.