CM Yogi
The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh will present a supplementary budget on Tuesday. The UP government could present a budget of around Rs 140 crore on the second day of the winter session of the legislature. The main focus of the supplementary budget could be infrastructure, urban development planning and infrastructure development related to the Kumbh Mela. The Yogi government is busy organizing a sacred and majestic Mahakum Puja for which it is leaving no stone unturned. Yogi government can provide special package for Mahakumbh, but the question is why Yogi government needs supplementary budget?
The Yogi government had proposed a basic budget of about Rs 736 crore for 2024-25 in February. After this, the Yogi government proposed a supplementary budget of Rs 12,909 crore in the monsoon session on July 30 and now it has proposed a second supplementary budget in the winter session. This supplementary budget will be entirely focused on Mahakumbh as Mahakumbh starts from January 13.
Why do you need a supplementary budget?
A supplementary budget is proposed by any government when it requires additional expenditure within the approved budget. The budget also includes those expenses that were not included in the estimated budget or that have become necessary as a result of new programs or policies. Supplementary budget is presented in the middle of the financial year to spend additional amount in any program of any department or ministry. It provides cost estimates.
The Uttar Pradesh government is busy preparing for Mahakumbh 2025, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. No one is willing to go out of their way to provide basic facilities related to Kumbh. In addition to the development work completed during Mahakumbh, the Jewar airport under construction in Greater Noida requires additional funds. In addition to this, many planning and development projects also require a budget. That is why the Yogi government is coming up with a supplementary budget so that there is no shortage of funds.
Budget proposal will be approved
Additional funds are expected to be provided for Prayagraj Mahakumbh in the supplementary budget. The supplementary budget proposal will be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. It will be presented at the General Assembly later. The Yogi government has declared the fair area as a new district for organizing Prayagraj Mahakumbh. Recently, while the notification of a new district named Mahakumbh Mela was issued, it was informed that all procedures required for functioning of any other district would be adopted in the Mahakumbh Mela district. For this, a budget is also needed, which the government will achieve through a supplementary budget.
In February 2023, the Yogi government said that they had proposed a budget of Rs 2,500 crore for the Kumbh Mela. Earlier, the Kumbh Mela budget for the financial year 2022-23 was Rs 621.55 crore. The state government has delegated the responsibility of preparing projects to more than 15 departments. In preparation, the goal is to complete more than 500 projects.
UP govt opens coffers for Mahakumbh
According to the Uttar Pradesh tourism department, around 40-45 crore people are expected to attend the Mahakumbh event spread over 4,000 hectares on the banks of the Sangam river. The estimated budget of the campaign is approximately Rs 6,382 crore, of which more than Rs 5,600 crore has been spent on the campaign and related projects. During the SP government, the planned budget for 2012 was Rs 1,152 crore, but the actual expenditure was about Rs 120 million. The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has opened up the state coffers for active preparations for Mahakumbh and has presented a supplementary budget for the purpose.
Apart from the Kumbh Mela, the focus will also be on urban development plans, infrastructure development, industrial development, health and transportation. Funds can be allocated for Jewar Airport. Apart from this, the construction work of the Ganga Expressway is progressing at a fast pace and additional funds are required to complete it on time. That is why the Yogi government has proposed a supplementary budget, which will first be approved by the Cabinet and then tabled in the House.
