For now, Haryana to have no new taxes

For now, Haryana to have no new taxes
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 12: Haryana Finance Minister Sampat Singh has proposed no new taxes in his Rs 288.79-crore deficit budget for the coming year, presented on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha here on Monday.

However, he did not rule out the possibility of taxes in future and shrugged it off saying how can he predict what would happen in future. ``Who imagined the Gujarat earthquake?'' Singh remarked in his post-budget press conference.

He said this year's budget estimates were more realistic than the one presented last year. Concerned over the ever-increasing debt burden, Singh proposed to set up a Sinking Fund and to rationalise administrative functioning a State Economic Renewal Fund was also proposed.

The budget projections indicate a deficit of Rs 54.93 crore on the year's account with the next financial year, to close with a cumulative deficit of Rs 288.79 crore which Singh expects to cover by way of economy measures, increased share in Central Taxes and inherent buoyancy in the state economy.

``We bank on austerity measures,'' said the Finance Minister after reading out his nearly hour-long budget speech, quipping ``What else do you want as austerity -- we have come to Ambassadors from the Mercedes and Cielo.'' However, wasn't forthcoming on how much the state has saved in its austerity drive.

Singh said the state would give priority to developing infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity. Around 54.6 per cent of the budget has been kept for infrastructure development to generate employment and resources. The share for health and education too has been given a jump. Ironically, the non-plan budget of the state government has shot up by nearly Rs 2,178 crore which, Singh explained, was due to large-scale recruitments of security staff and teachers last year. The state initially estimated the non-plan expenditure at Rs 6838.02 crore, to be revised to 7400.97 crore and fixing this year's figure at 8016.43 crore.

The FM expects the proposed budget to create better financial discipline and boost agriculture and industries, besides infrastructure. In the cleverly-drafted document, the state has tried to conceal the downsizing of plan budget and claimed raise in plan though the new estimate is less by nearly 400 crore than the proposed figure of last year.

Cong cries foul over leakage
Congress, the main Opposition party in the Haryana Assembly, today cried foul and charged breach of privilege by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala for allegedly hinting at a tax-free budget.

The treasury benches had a tough time countering the Congress onslaught and vociferous protests and failed to shout down the Opposition over the issue. However, Speaker Satbir Singh Kadiyan ruled that the statement of Chief Minister did not amount to a leakage and was only a speech of his party's policy and programmes.