NAGPUR, JAN 28: Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the State Government has no other alternative but to downsize the State budget in order to reduce the revenue deficit, which is pegged at Rs 7,500 crore.With nearly 73 per cent of the earnings being spent on non-planned expenditure, the State Government is left with the only choice of reducing the plan size in order to contain the deficit, Deshmukh said. He said that at present, it was not possible to curtail the non-planned expenditure, but the State will have to find measures to reduce it substantially.Imposing fresh taxes, he said, was also not a possible alternative, keeping in view the Union Government policy of rationalisation of the tax structure throughout the country. But he hinted at giving up more subsidies. Abolition of subsidy on foodgrains for the Above Poverty Line population and hike in prices of milk provided through Government milk schemes, were some of the steps in this direction, Deshmukh said while speaking to the newsmenat Ramgiri on Thursday.Earlier, in reply to a question, Deshmukh said that severe financial crunch was the sole reason behind the delay caused in the payment of dues to farmers against cotton purchase. The State has borrowed money from co-operative banks to allocate to cotton growers, he said. Deshmukh also justified the decision of the State Electricity Board to offer huge concessions for the payment of electricity bills to the powerloom in different pockets of the State.Change in portfoliosMUMBAI: The Democratic Front (DF) Government in Maharashtra on Friday re-allocated portfolios of three Ministers of State. Anil Deshmukh would hold Information and Public Relations, School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare portfolios, an official release said. Sunil Tatkare would be State Minister for Urban Development and ULC, it said. Dr N P Hirani would now be State Minister for Water Resources, Protocol, Cultural Affairs and Prohibition Campaign, the release added.
