The State Government is spending more on payment of loan, interest, employees’ salary, allowances and pension than its annual revenue.
Replying to a question by BJP member Dilip Ray in the Assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said that in 2017-18 financial year, while the State’s budget was worth Rs 1,10,201.1 crore, the revenue expected is Rs 36,300 crore. The expenses for the salary and allowances of the employees for the year is Rs 23,500 crore, for pension Rs 11,312.50 crore, for running offices Rs 551.34 crore, payment of loan Rs 3,414.64 crore and interest Rs 5,000 crore. Consequently, the expenses in these areas would be Rs 7,478.48 crore more than the revenue.
According to Behera, the revenue of the State has increased thrice in 2017-18 financial year compared to 2009-10. In 2009-10 financial year, the revenue collection stood at Rs 12,194.54 crore and in 2016-17, it was Rs 30,895.58 crore. However, the expenditures in the two years in salary alone stood at Rs 9,288.98 crore and Rs 18,646.61 crore and in pension Rs 3,283.41 crore and Rs 6,842.58 crore respectively. Similarly, in incurring expenses for running office, Rs 181.45 crore was spent in 2009-10 and Rs 557.34 crore in 2016-17. The payment of loan and interest in 2009-10 was Rs 4,532.86 crore and Rs 6,997.48 crore in 2016-17.