<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Various infrastructure projects to tap the opportunities being opened up by the Vizhinjam International Seaport and Rs 750 crore for time-bound rehabilitation of the people hit by the 2024 <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/wayanad">Wayanad</a> landslide are among the highlights of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala">Kerala</a> budget presented on Friday. </p><p>Despite the local body election coming up this year and the assembly elections next year, Finance minister K N Balagopal could not announce much sops in the budget owing to the acute financial crunches of the state. A marginal hike of around Rs 100 in welfare pension of Rs 1,600 per month to over 60 lakh people and setting up of pay commission for government employees were the major sops expected.</p><p>Measures like 50 percent hike in the land tax, increase in various court fees and 50 percent increase in private vehicles above 15 years could trigger protests. Life-time road tax on electric four-wheelers, which is now five per cent, will be increased to eight percent for vehicles priced above Rs 15 lakh and 10 percent for vehicles priced above Rs 20 lakh.</p><p>Blaming the centre for the financial crunches of the state and for not announcing any assistance for the Wayanad landslide disaster, the finance minister said that the disaster caused a loss of around Rs. 1,202 crore and around Rs. 2,221crore would be required for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected area. "The rehabilitation will be completed in a time-bound manner using funds from CMDRF, SDMA, central grants, CSR initiatives, sponsorships and other contributions from public entities and private individuals," he said.</p><p>The state budget also proposes various measures to make use of the proposals in the union budget. As the union budget proposed to make India a global toy manufacturing hub, Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for promoting the toy manufacturing sector of Kerala. Developing air strips, heliports and seaplane tourism to take advantage of UDAN regional connectivity scheme has been also proposed in the budget and Rs. 20 crore earmarked.</p><p>The budget with an estimated revenue receipts of Rs. 1,52,352 crore and revenue expenditure of Rs. 1,79,476 crore will be the last full budget of the second consecutive left-front government led CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan.</p>.Kerala Finance Minister says state has survived 'most intense' phase of financial crisis.<p><strong>Tapping Vizhinjam's potential</strong></p><p>In view of the thrust given for the ship manufacturing industry in the union budget, the finance minister said that the Centre would be pursued to set up a shipyard in south Kerala. Already there is a long pending proposal to set up a shipyard close to Vizhinjam port. </p><p>"Our ultimate goal is to establish Vizhinjam not as a transshipment hub, but as a Major export-import (EXIM) port drawing on the examples of Singapore, Rotterdam, and Dubai ports," the finance minister said.</p><p>A Vizhinjam-Kollam-Punalur growth triangle for strengthening of major transport corridors like highways and railway lines, developing multi-modal parks, manufacturing hubs, storage facilities, processing units, assembling units, and logistics centres is one key proposal for tapping the opportunities of Vizhinjam port which already become operational. An outer areas growth corridor along the 63 kilometer outer ring road connecting the port with NH 66 with seven separate economic zones is also proposed.</p>.<p><strong>New innings for senior citizens</strong></p><p>The budget also proposed a new initiative titled 'New Innings' to encourage senior citizens to launch novel enterprises and industries utilising the financial capacity and experience of senior citizens. "This project will enable the senior citizens to be socially active and participate in economic activities," said Balagopal.</p>.<p><strong>Man-animal conflict </strong></p><p>With man-animal conflict becoming a burning issue in Kerala and opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front trying to cash in on it, Balagopal elaborated the allocations made during the recent years for mitigating man-animal conflict. By earmarking Rs 305.61 crore for forestry and wildlife conservation sector, Balagopal said that the focus will be on improving water security, mitigating human-animal conflicts, securing the lives and livelihoods of forest dependent communities and sustainable management of forest by keeping forest as a safeguard against climate change.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Various infrastructure projects to tap the opportunities being opened up by the Vizhinjam International Seaport and Rs 750 crore for time-bound rehabilitation of the people hit by the 2024 <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/wayanad">Wayanad</a> landslide are among the highlights of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala">Kerala</a> budget presented on Friday. </p><p>Despite the local body election coming up this year and the assembly elections next year, Finance minister K N Balagopal could not announce much sops in the budget owing to the acute financial crunches of the state. A marginal hike of around Rs 100 in welfare pension of Rs 1,600 per month to over 60 lakh people and setting up of pay commission for government employees were the major sops expected.</p><p>Measures like 50 percent hike in the land tax, increase in various court fees and 50 percent increase in private vehicles above 15 years could trigger protests. Life-time road tax on electric four-wheelers, which is now five per cent, will be increased to eight percent for vehicles priced above Rs 15 lakh and 10 percent for vehicles priced above Rs 20 lakh.</p><p>Blaming the centre for the financial crunches of the state and for not announcing any assistance for the Wayanad landslide disaster, the finance minister said that the disaster caused a loss of around Rs. 1,202 crore and around Rs. 2,221crore would be required for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected area. "The rehabilitation will be completed in a time-bound manner using funds from CMDRF, SDMA, central grants, CSR initiatives, sponsorships and other contributions from public entities and private individuals," he said.</p><p>The state budget also proposes various measures to make use of the proposals in the union budget. As the union budget proposed to make India a global toy manufacturing hub, Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for promoting the toy manufacturing sector of Kerala. Developing air strips, heliports and seaplane tourism to take advantage of UDAN regional connectivity scheme has been also proposed in the budget and Rs. 20 crore earmarked.</p><p>The budget with an estimated revenue receipts of Rs. 1,52,352 crore and revenue expenditure of Rs. 1,79,476 crore will be the last full budget of the second consecutive left-front government led CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan.</p>.Kerala Finance Minister says state has survived 'most intense' phase of financial crisis.<p><strong>Tapping Vizhinjam's potential</strong></p><p>In view of the thrust given for the ship manufacturing industry in the union budget, the finance minister said that the Centre would be pursued to set up a shipyard in south Kerala. Already there is a long pending proposal to set up a shipyard close to Vizhinjam port. </p><p>"Our ultimate goal is to establish Vizhinjam not as a transshipment hub, but as a Major export-import (EXIM) port drawing on the examples of Singapore, Rotterdam, and Dubai ports," the finance minister said.</p><p>A Vizhinjam-Kollam-Punalur growth triangle for strengthening of major transport corridors like highways and railway lines, developing multi-modal parks, manufacturing hubs, storage facilities, processing units, assembling units, and logistics centres is one key proposal for tapping the opportunities of Vizhinjam port which already become operational. An outer areas growth corridor along the 63 kilometer outer ring road connecting the port with NH 66 with seven separate economic zones is also proposed.</p>.<p><strong>New innings for senior citizens</strong></p><p>The budget also proposed a new initiative titled 'New Innings' to encourage senior citizens to launch novel enterprises and industries utilising the financial capacity and experience of senior citizens. "This project will enable the senior citizens to be socially active and participate in economic activities," said Balagopal.</p>.<p><strong>Man-animal conflict </strong></p><p>With man-animal conflict becoming a burning issue in Kerala and opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front trying to cash in on it, Balagopal elaborated the allocations made during the recent years for mitigating man-animal conflict. By earmarking Rs 305.61 crore for forestry and wildlife conservation sector, Balagopal said that the focus will be on improving water security, mitigating human-animal conflicts, securing the lives and livelihoods of forest dependent communities and sustainable management of forest by keeping forest as a safeguard against climate change.</p>