Friday, February 26, 2010

Comments of

Mr. Vinayak Chatterjee

Chairman, Feedback Ventures

 

The ‘infrastructure sector’ has continued to get priority attention. The Finance Minister mentioned that, overall, infrastructure now accounts for 46% of the overall outlays. This probably defines the limits of possibility within the budgetary system. The larger debate and expectations now necessarily have to be outside the budgetary frame work.

 

Enthusiastic support for the road sector, including making imports of critical road making equipment easier, has been well received.

 

The one big idea is the cleaning up of coal sector. The announcements of transparent bidding for captive coal mines and the setting up of the Coal Regulatory Authority are significant milestones in India’s economic history.

 

Possibly one major expectation not met relates to tax free bonds for infra. Chiefs of public sector banks had asked the FM to consider this seriously. Such a step would not have affected the discipline on deficit-control, mopped up retail savings for a nation building purpose, and addressed the asset liability mismatch of banks.

 

Some indicative action on clearing up execution and implementation issues would have cheered up the infra market no end.

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