Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee presents the Union budget. (AFP)

Patna, Feb. 28: The Union budget presented by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has come in for sharp criticism from the Bihar industry associations and chambers for ignoring the state’s demand for special economic package.

Expressing disappointment on the Union budget, particularly in the context of the state, Bihar Chamber of Commerce (BCC) president O.P. Sah said: “The budget has once again disappointed the trade and industry of Bihar as it was widely expected that the Centre will provide economically and industrially backward state status to Bihar and will frame special norms for the state on a par with Uttaranchal, Himachal and northeastern (NE) states.”

Bihar Industries Association president Shailendra P. Sinha has also criticised the Union budget for not incorporating the state’s demands for special economic package and special status state.

Sinha, however, said the budget is a growth-oriented one but the government’s estimate that fiscal deficit would be hovering between 4 and 6 per cent is a cause of concern and may adversely impact the growth momentum.

BIA vice-president Subhash K. Patwari expressed disappointment that the budget did not propose to raise the investment limit for small and medium sectors as price rise and inflation have escalated the project cost. CII-Bihar state council chairman Satyajit Singh said: “The budget has failed to wipe out the regional disparity as it has not provided anything special to Bihar. At least, the budget should have the provision for water management scheme for Bihar to deal with perennial problem of floods.” Meanwhile, RJD reacted cautiously to the budget saying the finance minister chose a middle path.

Leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui said the budget failed to come out with the schemes or policies to check ride in prices, unravel black money and to deal with rising unemployment.