Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday 21 May 2020

Mothballing Mega-Projects ?




During her recent press briefings , Smt Sitaramanji announced an ECONOMY  STIMULUS  PACKAGE of Rs 20.97 lakh*crore



But , it would be incorrect to call it an ECONOMY STIMULUS PACKAGE , since allocation for “ job-generating “ INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS , was only Rs 1.4 lakh crore !  

Rest was more in the nature of a RELIEF to individuals by way of CASH and some support to businesses to avoid winding up


When asked by a journalist , how Government plans to raise funds for this ambitious outlay , Smt Sitharamanji said :


“ We are borrowing – we will continue to borrow from the market “  [ approximate words ]


Obviously, she could not say : 

“ We will tax the rich taxpayers , some more “


My guess is that , out of the total of Rs 6 lakh*crore of PERSONAL INCOME TAX revenue , those Super Rich , probably contribute no more than Rs 1 lakh*crore !


Raising their tax-rate by 100 % , would fetch , may be an additional , Rs 1 lakh*crore !


Peanuts compared to the funds required for the following ( mostly, incomplete ? ) mega-projects :


Ø  Mumbai – Nagpur  Super Expressway ……………………………………. Rs   46,000   crore

Ø  Ahmedabad – Mumbai Bullet Train    …………………………………….. Rs  108,000  crore

Ø  Shri Shivaji Maharaj Statue  ……………………………………………………  Rs       3,644  crore

Ø  Mumbai Trans Harbour Link …………………………………………………… Rs    14, 262  crore

Ø  Amaravati Capital City ( Andhra ) ……………………………………………  Rs  109,000  crore

Ø  GIF-Tec City ( Gujarat )  …………………………………………………………..  Rs  140,000  crore

Ø  Navi-Mumbai International Airport ( NAMI ) ………………………….. Rs  112,000  crore

Ø  Delhi – Mumbai Trade Corridor  ……………………………………………… Rs  630,000  crore

Ø  Central Vista Project ( Delhi )  …………………………………………………. Rs     20,000  crore

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Ø  TOTAL   …………………………………………………………………………………… 
Rs  21.90  Lakh*Crore

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And this is only a partial list . For a better understanding of what we are facing, read :

Ø  Centre resolves 615 infrastructure projects worth Rs 22.35 trillion   …………………[  24 June 2019  ]

Ø  Infra funding requirement pegged at 111 lakh crore during 2020-25  ……………..[  29 April  2020  ]


This must be looked in the following context :


Ø  If our expected GDP was $ 2.9 trillion ( $ 2920 billion ) for 20-21 , that would work out to  $ 8 billion ( Rs 56,000 cr  ), PER DAY


Ø  Hence , in past 58 days of lockdown , our GDP has lost $ 464 billion ( Rs 32.48 Lakh*Crore )


Both, the Centre and the States, are spending huge amount of funds for fighting Corona crisis

Their reserves have depleted, treasuries are hitting rock bottom. The end of this crisis is not in sight !


One thing is crystal clear. Capital Spending on Infrastructure Projects would have to be suspended


With dwindling revenues from taxes ( direct + indirect ),  States – and Centre – will not have , even enough money for Revenue Expenditure ( salaries etc )

And if there are no Infra Projects, how will economy revive ? How will jobs get generated ?

Not through MGNREGA

During her press brief , talking about MGNREGA, Smt Sitharamanji said :

Ø  Additional allocation of Rs 40,000 cr , will generate 300 crore MAN-DAYS of work

Ø  Therefore, earlier / original allocation of Rs 60,000 cr , could provide 450 crore MAN-DAYS

Ø  A total allocation of Rs 101,000 cr giving , 750 cr MAN-DAYS

Ø  Now , MGNREGA promises 100 Man-days / year / to Rural – Unskilled – Unemployed

Ø  Hence, this works out to providing work to 7.5 crore workers only ( in rural areas )


 Will Centre approach World Bank – IMF – Asian Development Bank etc for Rs 111 lakh*crore ?


With dozens of poor countries approaching these institutions for funds, India cannot expect much help from them

Whatever is given, will carry stringent conditions ( for “ Ease of Doing Business “ reforms ?  ) – besides untenable “interest rates  / repayment terms “


If there ever was a time to put BLACK MONEY to productive use – to revive Economy and generate jobs ,  that time is NOW !


To undo the ravages of the TINY VIRUS , what we need is an ELEPHANT !


To be precise , ELEPHANT BONDS ( modified as suggested by me ), as outlined in :


Congratulations, Shri Surjit Bhallaji,   ………………………………….[ 31 Oct 2019 ]


Dear Madam Sitharamanji,


Times of extreme calamity demand “ unorthodox and out-of-the-box “ solutions


Reducing Repo Rate from 4.4 % to 4.0 % ( as announced a few minutes back by RBI Governor , Shri Shaktikant Das ),  is no more than applying a BAND-AID to a likely fatal wound !


If you announce ELEPHANT BONDS right now, no one will misunderstand


No one ( including Experts / Economists / Opposition leaders ) will criticize your announcement because none of them have anything better to offer !


With regards,

Hemen Parekh

hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  22  May  2020

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