The massive budget outlay of Rs.1.28 lakh crore for 2011-12 was an unrealistic one given the last two years' experience when 20 per cent of the allocation remained unspent, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao said here on Friday.
Initiating the discussion on the State budget on Friday, Mr. Veerabhadra Rao said that the Chairman should consider constitution of Standing Committees for a thorough review of the budget. It lacked new measures to prevent misuse of public money and ensure protection of natural resources of the State.
He said instead of increasing indirect taxes to garner more tax revenue, government should focus on non-tax revenue, particularly revenue from mines and minerals with huge potential to add to the State exchequer.
Mr. Veerabhadra Rao sought a new transparent policy for issuing mining leases through bidding. At present, small group of individuals were controlling mining leases to earn thousands of crores and holding governments to ransom. He demanded action against individuals indicted by Vigilance and Enforcement wing to check pilferage.
Deploring the government for making excise a major source of revenue, he said while people purchased 60 lakh tonnes of rice and paid Rs.12,000 crore, about two crore people spent Rs.24,000 crore on liquor in the State.
He termed the creation of Special Fund for development and welfare activities, under the control of Chief Minister as a bad precedent.
Disputing the per capita income projection of Rs.60,000, he said at least 60 per cent of people were not even getting minimum wages.
