FM explains big fall in revenue deficit: Rs 3,100 cr from additional resources

The Indian Express had reported on Monday that the projections of Punjab on revenue and fiscal deficits and expenditure changed drastically between the presentation made in May and the June budget.

As he led the Congress charge today,Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar accused the SAD-BJP government of resorting to fudging of figures or having ‘miraculous’ powers. “The figures changed drastically in one month between the presentation made to the Planning Commission in Delhi,while approving the annual plan,and tabling of the budget on June 20. The revenue deficit has fallen by half in just a month and the committed expenditure which was 110 per cent of revenue receipts in the previous year is expected to fall to 80 per cent this year. Does Dhindsa have a magic wand to do such miracles?” he said.

Later in his reply to the budget debate,Dhindsa said the state had projected Rs 1,580 crore from additional resource mobilisation in the plan panel presentation. “However,in the budget the figure listed as additional resource mobilisation was Rs 3,100 crore. Also,we had projected our salaries bill at Rs 16,000 crore to the commission,while it was just Rs 13,300 crore last year. Even after factoring eight per cent increase,it will touch Rs 14,500 crore. So this too brought down the figure by Rs 1,500 crore,” Dhindsa said.

In his budget speech Dhindsa had pegged the figure from additional resource mobilisation measures to Rs 2,000 crore,of which he said Rs 250 crore would come from austerity measures such as cut on office expenditure and ban on purchase of new vehicles. “I had mentioned in my budget speech that the money could come from better tax compliance and administration,austerity measures and I did not rule out new taxes to fill the remaining gap,” he added.

Kalia demands Rs 400 cr for Jalandhar

JALANDHAR: BJP MLA Manoranjan Kalia on Monday demanded Rs 400 crore from the government to complete projects in Jalandhar.

While speaking in the Assembly,Kalia said another Rs 12.12 crore is needed for the timely completion of NIFD. While the institute was to come up at a cost of Rs 22.12 crore,so far,only Rs 10 crore have been spent. He also raised the issue of making budgetary provisions for the Rs 30-crore flyover at Kapurthala Chowk.

HUDCO has sanctioned a Rs 130-crore loan to set up a sports hub at Burlton Park,while the total cost of project is Rs 230 crore. He said the remaining Rs 100 crore must be arranged in the state budget.