<p>The ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala and the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) have termed the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/union-budget">Union Budget</a> as 'anti-<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/1">Kerala</a>' as the state's expectations of key sops in the assembly election year budget went in vain.</p><p>Chief Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/pinarayi-vijayan">Pinarayi Vijayan</a> said that the Finance Commission report was also disappointing for the state as the grants to the state have been slashed to Rs. 1.4 lakh crore from Rs. 2.2 lakh crore in 2021. </p><p>A marginal increase in the tax share to the state was the outcome of state's achievement in population control and growth.</p><p>"The Union Finance Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nirmala-sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharama</a>n seems to have deliberately ignored Kerala. None of the state's demands were considered," Vijayan said.</p><p>High-speed rail corridor, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Sabari Rail project and projects to tap the opportunities being opened up by the Vizhinjam port were the key expectations of Kerala.</p><p>Since the assembly polls are approaching, the state was having high expectations of major projects at least for Thiruvananthapuram as the BJP came to power in the city corporation for the first time.</p><p>A rare earth corridor and turtle trail project were among the few Kerala specific announcements in the budget. Announcements like development of tier two and three cities, viability gap funding for sea plane, coconut and seafood promotion schemes and setting up of ayurveda institutes could become beneficial for the state.</p>.BJP blames Kerala govt for not implementing central projects after Union Budget.<p>The Chief Minister said that the rare earth corridor could be part of a ploy of the centre to take away the mineral deposits of Kerala and help the private mining lobbies.</p><p>Even as seven high speed rail corridors were announced in the budget, Kerala did not get one. This could further aggravate the ongoing tussle between Kerala government and 'Metro man' E Sreedharan. </p><p>While Sreedharan recently said that a high-speed rail project for Kerala was under centre's active consideration, the state government mooted a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) for the state as an alternative to the much-hyped K-Rail's Silverline project that failed to get centre's nod. Sreedharan termed the RRTS project as a 'foolish idea', which triggered strong criticism from the CPM.</p><p>Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that the finance commission denied the GST compensation as well as revenue deficit grants of around Rs. 50,000 crore for five years. </p><p>Only a marginal increase was made in the tax share - from 1.9 per cent to 2.38 per cent. The state had demanded 2.7 percent, he said.</p><p>Congress legislative party leader V D Satheesan also flayed the alleged neglect towards Kerala in the budget.</p>
<p>The ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala and the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) have termed the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/union-budget">Union Budget</a> as 'anti-<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/1">Kerala</a>' as the state's expectations of key sops in the assembly election year budget went in vain.</p><p>Chief Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/pinarayi-vijayan">Pinarayi Vijayan</a> said that the Finance Commission report was also disappointing for the state as the grants to the state have been slashed to Rs. 1.4 lakh crore from Rs. 2.2 lakh crore in 2021. </p><p>A marginal increase in the tax share to the state was the outcome of state's achievement in population control and growth.</p><p>"The Union Finance Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nirmala-sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharama</a>n seems to have deliberately ignored Kerala. None of the state's demands were considered," Vijayan said.</p><p>High-speed rail corridor, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Sabari Rail project and projects to tap the opportunities being opened up by the Vizhinjam port were the key expectations of Kerala.</p><p>Since the assembly polls are approaching, the state was having high expectations of major projects at least for Thiruvananthapuram as the BJP came to power in the city corporation for the first time.</p><p>A rare earth corridor and turtle trail project were among the few Kerala specific announcements in the budget. Announcements like development of tier two and three cities, viability gap funding for sea plane, coconut and seafood promotion schemes and setting up of ayurveda institutes could become beneficial for the state.</p>.BJP blames Kerala govt for not implementing central projects after Union Budget.<p>The Chief Minister said that the rare earth corridor could be part of a ploy of the centre to take away the mineral deposits of Kerala and help the private mining lobbies.</p><p>Even as seven high speed rail corridors were announced in the budget, Kerala did not get one. This could further aggravate the ongoing tussle between Kerala government and 'Metro man' E Sreedharan. </p><p>While Sreedharan recently said that a high-speed rail project for Kerala was under centre's active consideration, the state government mooted a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) for the state as an alternative to the much-hyped K-Rail's Silverline project that failed to get centre's nod. Sreedharan termed the RRTS project as a 'foolish idea', which triggered strong criticism from the CPM.</p><p>Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that the finance commission denied the GST compensation as well as revenue deficit grants of around Rs. 50,000 crore for five years. </p><p>Only a marginal increase was made in the tax share - from 1.9 per cent to 2.38 per cent. The state had demanded 2.7 percent, he said.</p><p>Congress legislative party leader V D Satheesan also flayed the alleged neglect towards Kerala in the budget.</p>