INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on Monday announced a Rs 12,000 crore 50-year interest free loan to state governments for spending
on capital expenditure projects in a bid to the boost economy which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic
Ms Sitharaman said, out of the Rs 12,000 crore, Rs 1,600 crore will be given to north-eastern states and Rs 900 crore will be for Uttrakhand
and Himachal Pradesh each respectively.The loan will have to be spent entirely on new or ongoing capital projects, she said adding that
states can settle bills of contractors and suppliers but all the amount has to be paid before March 31, 2021.She said Rs 7,500 crore will be
Rs 2,000 crore will be given to states that fulfill pre-stated reforms.The loan is over and above borrowing ceilings of the states and the
repayment will be one bullet payment after 50 years, she added.The Finance Minister also announced additional capital expenditure of Rs
25,000 crore by the central government.This will be in addition to Rs 4.13 lakh crore budgeted, she said, adding that the additional money
will be for spending on roads, defence infrastructure, water supply and urban development.
