Planned expenditure increases by 128.78 per cent

Patna, Dec 15 (UNI) The Bihar government today said planned expenditure in the second quarter of the current fiscal has increased by 128.78 per cent compared to last year.

Tabling the receipts and expenditure for the second quarter of the current financial year, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, also holding the Finance portfolio, said under the planned expenditure for development, the government spent Rs 2652.45 crore as compared to Rs 1159.40 crore last year.

He said the government had so far spent 27.76 per cent of budget estimate and it was 128.78 per cent more than last year.

Mr Modi said the non-plan expenditure remained 59.61 per cent more than last year as Rs 6473.32 crore was spent this year against Rs 4055.72 crore last year.

He said the current expenditure under the non-plan head was 33.85 per cent of the budget estimate.

The enhancement was registered following increase in expenditure, including subsidy to BSEB at the rate of Rs 60 crore per month instead of Rs 34 crore monthly.

Total non-debt receipts remained at Rs 9037.69 crore, 39.21 per cent of budget estimate, while total non-debt expenditure was recorded at Rs 9125.77 crore, 30.12 per cent of budget estimate, Mr Modi said.

He added income from own sources was 9.01 per cent more than last year during the same period. The income from its own resources increased and remained at 34.85 per cent of budget estimate as it had increased to Rs 1695.54 crore this year.

The Minister said value added tax collection increased by 27.96 per cent as compared to previous year and Rs 1066.89 crore was collected this year as compared to Rs 833.76 crore last year.

This was 35.56 per cent of the budget estimate, he added.

Mr Modi said 14.95 per cent decrease was registered in collections from registration and stamp duties as compared to previous year. This year 256.33 crore was collected, while last year it was Rs 301.37 crore.

He said the stamp duty rates had been reduced but it will lead to better compliance in future.

Mr Modi said motor vehicle tax collection remained at Rs 87.25 crore this year, while last year the figure stood at Rs 151.52 crore.

He said the reduction was due to discontinuation of Special Agreement Pass scheme following a Supreme Court order, leading to a loss of Rs 18 crore.

Mr Modi said 5.75 per cent increase had been registered in excise collections as Rs 176.76 crore was collected this year, while last year collection stood at Rs 167.15 crore.

UNI RS SJC PA HS1604