Rs 231 crore deficit budget in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Mar 19 (UNI) Jharkhand Finance Minister Stephen Marandi today presented a tax-free Rs 231.28 crore deficit budget for the next fiscal.

Presenting the budget to the tune of Rs 16400.52 crore, Mr Marandi, also the Deputy Chief Minister, said he was not imposing any fresh tax to generate revenue.

The Minister said projected sources of money mainly included public debt of 28.05 per cent, grant-in-aid of 10.29 per cent, 21 per cent from state tax and 25.13 as share of Central tax.

For the next fiscal the planned expenditure stood at Rs 7539.86 crore, 3.51 per cent lower than the previous figure.

However, the non-planned budget was to the tune of Rs 8860.66 crore, a hike of 16.89 per cent than that of the previous year.

The Minister said annual state plan mainly covered areas like rural developmemnt, which got the highest 16.48 per cent of the total budget followed by energy (13.92 per cent) and education (13.04 per cent).

He said 9.38 per cent was allotted to roads and building, nearly eight per cent each for irrigation and health.

UNI