SHILLONG, June 23 – Meghalaya Finance Minister Mukul Sangma today presented a tax-free deficit Budget of over Rs 400 crore for the current fiscal and said additional resources would be raised to tide over the deficit.
Sangma said the government would try to raise additional resources by introducing cess on coal, limestone and other Excise levies as per the recommendation of the task force committee on mobilization of additional resources.
The Finance Minister added additional revenue could be mobilized by increasing rate of tax under the Passengers and Goods Taxation Act and rationalization of tax rates on works contracts.
These measures are expected to bring additional resources to the tune of Rs 25 crore during the current year, he said.
He said the estimated deficit was due to rise in establishment cost because of implementation of the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission and other expenditures.
The Planning Commission was yet to finalize the annual Plan size. However, the State Government was presenting a tentative State Plan Budget of Rs 1,880 crore for the current fiscal, he said.
On law and order, Sangma said, the situation was improving for the past few years. He added special attention was being paid to internal security after the Mumbai attacks.
Moreover, a crisis management group headed by chief secretary as its chairman and a coordination sub-group headed by Director General of Police has been constituted to deal with any threat.
Further, all Deputy Commissioners would be stringent in issuing licenses to the owners of explosives used in the mining areas so that such explosives do not fall in the wrong hands.
He further highlighted the priorities of the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government to improve power generation, transmission, grid connectivity and rural electrification. A tentative plan outlay of Rs 446.90 crore has been earmarked for the Power sector to boost the sector.
Improving the agriculture and allied sectors with emphasis on Horticulture has been listed as the MUA Government’s other priority. An amount of Rs 154.25 crore has been earmarked for this sector.
In the education sector, a tentative plan outlay of Rs 151.22 crore was earmarked while Rs 1.30 crore has been earmarked for improving the jail administration after the government drew criticism for the May 31 Shillong jailbreak.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun2409/ne1
Sangma said the government would try to raise additional resources by introducing cess on coal, limestone and other Excise levies as per the recommendation of the task force committee on mobilization of additional resources.
The Finance Minister added additional revenue could be mobilized by increasing rate of tax under the Passengers and Goods Taxation Act and rationalization of tax rates on works contracts.
These measures are expected to bring additional resources to the tune of Rs 25 crore during the current year, he said.
He said the estimated deficit was due to rise in establishment cost because of implementation of the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission and other expenditures.
The Planning Commission was yet to finalize the annual Plan size. However, the State Government was presenting a tentative State Plan Budget of Rs 1,880 crore for the current fiscal, he said.
On law and order, Sangma said, the situation was improving for the past few years. He added special attention was being paid to internal security after the Mumbai attacks.
Moreover, a crisis management group headed by chief secretary as its chairman and a coordination sub-group headed by Director General of Police has been constituted to deal with any threat.
Further, all Deputy Commissioners would be stringent in issuing licenses to the owners of explosives used in the mining areas so that such explosives do not fall in the wrong hands.
He further highlighted the priorities of the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government to improve power generation, transmission, grid connectivity and rural electrification. A tentative plan outlay of Rs 446.90 crore has been earmarked for the Power sector to boost the sector.
Improving the agriculture and allied sectors with emphasis on Horticulture has been listed as the MUA Government’s other priority. An amount of Rs 154.25 crore has been earmarked for this sector.
In the education sector, a tentative plan outlay of Rs 151.22 crore was earmarked while Rs 1.30 crore has been earmarked for improving the jail administration after the government drew criticism for the May 31 Shillong jailbreak.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun2409/ne1
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