Jammu
Devised to give a massive push to the public infrastructure, Rs 88,911 crore state Budget for the fiscal 2019-20 was approved by the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

Advisers to the Governor K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma; Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam; and Principal Secretary to the Governor Umang Narula were present at the specially-convened SAC meeting here on Saturday evening.

Principal Secretary, Finance, Navin K Choudhary gave a detailed presentation to the SAC on the revised estimates for 2018-19, Budget estimates for 2019-20 and other key features .

The SAC was informed that the focus of the Budget 2019-20 was to give a big push to tangible developmental initiatives with Rs 30,469 crore earmarked for building public and social infrastructure in addition to Rs 3,631 crore already provided under the ‘Languishing Projects Programme.’

According to Subrahmanyam, the Budget was structured around three fundamental objectives of building infrastructure, building institutions and building systems under the government’s mission for delivering development and mission on good governance.

He said the Budget was aimed at driving the state’s economic growth through multifarious initiatives with thrust on substantive developmental and welfare measures. He said the investment in key developmental and social sectors had been enhanced substantively to leave a visible impact on the ground.