Allocation of over 50 per cent of the total budget estimates for non-plan expenditure is not a healthy proposition for achieving the expected growth and development, said Floor leader of BJP in Telangana Assembly K. Laxman.
Participating in the general discussion on budget in the Assembly on Saturday, he termed the budgetary provisions “unrealistic and misleading”, particularly keeping in mind the experience in the current financial year. He stated that by the government’s own admission, Rs. 22,000 crore funds expected from the Centre and State’s own tax and non-tax revenue were not realised and hence, he had doubts whether at least Rs. 25,000 crore out of Rs. 48,648 crore planned expenditure in 2014-15 would be spent at all.
Referring to Finance Minister Eatala Rajender’s views on the budget and Chief Minister’s reply to the motion thanking Governor’s address, Mr. Laxman sought to know how could a State claiming itself to be rich seek more assistance and relaxations from the Centre. Instead, the State should focus on creating its own resources to meet the needs, he suggested.
Mr. Rajender, intervening in Mr. Laxman’s speech, clarified that what the Chief Minister meant was that Telangana was never a backward region, but it was relegated to backwardness by the rulers in the combined State.
Provision of more than half of budget for non-plan expenditure not healthy, feels BJP
floor leader
