33 per cent hike likely in Haryana budget plan

Notably,expenditure has been enhanced by more than Rs 500 crore in the current year,too. While the budget provision for the year 2008-09 was Rs 6,650 crore,the planning department had been forced to revise the initial outlay,said Ajit Mohan Sharan,Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary,Finance,Haryana.

Under the revised plan of the current financial year,the outlay for the Rural Development Scheme has been increased to Rs 611 crore from Rs 408.5 crore. Rs 82 crore extra were required for pavement of streets in villages,and Rs 100 crore for the 100-square yard free plot scheme.

Expenditure on road transport increased to Rs 173 crore from the initial outlay of Rs 123 crore. Haryana had declared the previous year as the ‘Year of Education’ and the government ended up spending Rs 55 crore more than the initial plan. The extra money was also needed for scholarship schemes initiated for the scheduled castes and backward classes. The sports budget,too,had to be revised from Rs 22 crore to Rs 35.5 crore.

According to sources,a shortfall of Rs 1,500 crore was likely in the revenue receipts due to slowdown of economy and additional funds required for several other projects.

The state had kept aside Rs 1,550 crore for the payment towards the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. Notably,the government has already implemented the recommendations from January this year,and allowed payment of 40 per cent of the total arrears this fiscal.

The rest of the amount would be paid in the next financial year.

It was expected that in the next fiscal,the fund-outlay for infrastructure would increase as there was likelihood of increase in construction of roads.

Sharan said a final shape to the Haryana’s annual plan was likely to be given at the meeting of the state government officials with the Planning Commission,scheduled to be held by the end of this week.