Orissa council of ministers approves 2011-12 budget

Bhubaneswar, Feb 3 (PTI) Social sector and provisionsfor the poor have been given priority in Orissa''s 2011-12budget, approved by the council of ministers today.

"The council of ministers today approved the draftbudget proposal for 2011-12," said chief minister NaveenPatnaik after the meeting of CoMs.

Stating that the size of 2011-12 budget would bebigger than the previous year, Finance minister PrafullaGhadai said the plan size of the state would also go up.

Ghadai, however, refused to reveal the size of theplan outlay for the year 2011-12. "Adequate importance hasbeen given to social sector and improvement of the poor peoplein the state," he said.

Claiming that 54 per cent of the 2010-11 budget wasspent by end of December, Ghadai said he was hopeful that restof the amount could be utilised by end of the ongoing fiscal.

The finance minister also claimed that there had beensubstantial improvement in the revenue collection, both in taxand non-tax areas this time.