Budget shows deficit of Rs. 13.3 crore in Bihar

Patna, Feb 25 (PTI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister SushilKumar Modi today presented Rs. 65,325.87 crore annual budgetfor 2011-12 having a marginal deficit of Rs. 13.03 crores, buta revenue surplus of Rs. 6272.30 crore.

Presenting the budget in the state assembly, hepointed out that road construction, human resourcesdevelopment, health and water resources will continue to bethe thrust areas of the NDA government in the financial year2011-12 too and announced an allocation of Rs. 5075 crore,about 21.15 per cent of the state plan of Rs. 24000 crore.

The human resources development department will get alarge pie of the state plan at Rs. 3014 crore, while thewater resources and health departments will receive Rs.

2212.38 crore and Rs. 545 crore respectively next year, Modisaid to thunderous applause from ruling benches.

The road construction, human resources, water andhealth had got major share of the state plan of Rs. 20,000last year too.

Modi presented a robust picture of the state''sfinancial health saying Bihar''s annual budget this yearwas about 20 per cent more than that of last year as thestate''s own revenue and the contributions from Centre haveincreased significantly.

The Deputy Chief Minister promised reforms in thefinancial sector during the second term of the NDA governmentand expressed optimism that the growth rate will be about 10per cent annually.

Modi said the state government will steadfastly tacklecorruption with a zero tolerance attitude and referred howthe government employees have been asked to declaretheir assets in pursuance of the state''s mission to provide acorruption-free governance.

Later talking to reporters, he explained thestate''s total expenditure has been proposed at Rs.65325.87crore against the proposed total receipts of Rs.

65,312.84 crore, thereby accruing a deficit of Rs. 13.03crore.

Describing the deficit as insignificant, he said thatthe state will have a proposed revenue suplus of Rs. 6272.30crore at its disposal which will be spent on the developmentand welfare projects, he said.

The surplus revenue proposed in the budget for 2011-12too has registered a slight decline of Rs. 285 crore. more PTIKDK SUSSUS