The Rs 230-crore reduction in the budgetary allocation to the environment ministry has drawn flak from environmentalists who say it may slow down or completely halt green initiatives. Besides the shrunk budget, they also feel that the Centre has not clarified how a separate amount of Rs 2,217 crore, set aside for tackling air pollution in 42 cities with minimum population of one million, will be utilised. The total budget allocated for the ministry this year is Rs 2,869.93 crore while last year it was Rs 3,100 crore. This implies that a number of environmental measures could be slowed down or halted, said Avinash Chanchal, a Climate Campaigner for the Greenpeace India.
India Auto Inc responds to Budget 2021
The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2021, which has been looked upon wishfully by all-industries alike. For India Auto Inc, which was hoping for massive reforms that could help repair the damage witnessed in 2020, the budget has received a mixed bag of response. Here’s what India Auto Inc thinks of the Budget 2020-2021.
KENICHI AYUKAWA, PRESIDENT, SOCIETY OF INDIAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS
“In a visionary budget, the government has adopted an expansionary stance with a thrust on infrastructure building with measures for efficiency improvement and increasing competitiveness. Good macroeconomic growth will translate to good auto sector demand. Specifically, the vehicle scrappage scheme has a good intent and the auto industry would be keen to work with the government on suggestions for maximizing benefits to environment and society.”