Skip to Main content

11.43°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jun 29, 2022 2:19 PM -

Punjab budget: Expert fears state might enter debt trap soon

Share On

punjab-budget-expert-fears-state-might-enter-debt-trap-soon

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema (Photo : ANI)

After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government presented its first budget in Punjab with the announcement of no new tax and free electricity from July 1, an economic expert believes that this will push the state into a debt trap in near future.

Dr Suvrokamal Dutta, an economic and foreign policy expert, highlighted the budget is well packaged with sugar-coated words in it with loads of thoughts for daydreaming. "When analysed in-depth the focus seems to be directionless and confusing in the budget.

The state has an overall debt of almost Rs 2.85 lakh crores and the government is totally clueless about how to overcome this," he added.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced providing 300 units of free electricity to households from July 1, setting up 117 Mohalla Clinics and upgrading 100 schools as 'schools of eminence' in the state among other proposals.

Dutta also criticized the state government's decision of providing free electricity of 300 units to each household. "In such a situation when the state is already overburdened with huge financial debt, free electricity will only worsen the situation further.

It will further burden the state exchequer and deepen the financial crisis further." He also opined that the level of financial debt which the state has cannot be mitigated only through GST collection.

Latest news

fifteen-people-accused-in-b-c-extortion-cases-file-refugee-claims-cbsa-confirms

CanadaDec 12, 2025

Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u

worksafebc-issues-more-than-1-3-million-dollars-in-penalties-after-fatal-crane-incident-at-oakridge-park

WorkSafeBC issues more than 1.3 million dollars in penalties after fatal crane incident at Oakridge Park

WorkSafeBC has levied more than 1.3 million dollars in fines against EllisDon Corporation and Newway Concrete Forming following a series of crane-related safety violations, including the February 2024 incident at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park development that killed construction worker Yuridia Flores. The penalties stem from multiple investigations involving highrise projects in Vancouver and Victoria. Flores died when a large concrete form mould – measuring nearly 10 metres by six metres – fell 26 storeys after accelerating out of the side of the building while being moved between floors. E

alberta-ends-fall-sitting-after-sweeping-use-of-notwithstanding-clause-draws-scrutiny

AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Alberta ends fall sitting after sweeping use of notwithstanding clause draws scrutiny

Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th

AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Advocacy groups shift legal strategy in bid to challenge Alberta’s gender care law

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th

IndiaDec 12, 2025

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a

Related News

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a

Punjab premier says economic outreach continues as opposition trades accusations

Punjab premier says economic outreach continues as opposition trades accusations

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says his government is focused on attracting international investment even as political tensions in the state intensify following recent remarks from Navjot Kaur Sidhu. Speaking to reporters, Mann said his administration is working to bring global companies to Punjab to expand opportunities in technology, health care, agriculture, and research. He contrasted that with what he described as the opposition Congress party’s focus on internal disputes and claims about the value of political positions. The Chief Minister returned this week from a visit to Japan

Punjab BJP leader seeks time bound probe under High Court supervision

Punjab BJP leader seeks time bound probe under High Court supervision

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar is calling for a time bound inquiry into allegations of corruption in the state, urging Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order an investigation under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Jakhar said an independent process is needed to examine all leaders, including himself, so the public can see a full accounting of the claims. He questioned the Chief Minister’s recent remarks suggesting he has files related to wrongdoing, asking why those documents have not been opened or shared with an impartial authority. Jakhar said b

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital