State revenue collection on growth path

BHUBANESWAR: Notwithstanding the slump and slow growth in market conditions, Odisha has achieved more than 23 percent growth in own tax revenue collection by November this year against the corresponding period in 2014.

The State Plan expenditure has also grown by 26 percent during this time against the last corresponding period, said an official of the Finance Department.

Reviewing the progress of the implementation of flagship programmes and important schemes of government on Saturday, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi directed the departments to focus on timely completion of the projects.

The departments have also been directed to take advance action for ensuring timely delivery of services to people under different schemes and programmes.

Presenting the updates of the revenue position, development commissioner and additional chief secretary (Finance) R. Balakrishnan said that own tax revenue up to November this year is satisfactory.

There has been higher collection from stamp duty and registration fees, renewal of mining leases, land revenue, electricity duty and state excise.

The total collection from own tax sources by November has been Rs 13, 483.79  crore against a collection of Rs.10, 932.92 crores in 2014 thereby recording a growth of 23.25 percent.

Similarly, the total collection from non-tax sources has been Rs.4371 crore by November with a growth of around 10 percent over the corresponding period of last year.

Total State plan expenditure by November has been Rs.20001.32 crore which is around 26 percent more than the expenditure made by November 2014.  The utilisation of budget in infrastructure sector has been to the tune of Rs.5163 crore up to November 2015 which is around 52 percent of the budget estimate, said a release.

The utilisation in social sectors like education, health, ST& SC development, labour Welfare, Panchayati Raj, women & child welfare, employment training & technical education has been around Rs 9616 crore which is around 55 percent of the budget estimate, the release added.

The expenditure on infrastructure and the social sector has exceeded 8 percent and 7 percent respectively over the corresponding period of last financial year.  Similarly, expenditure on agriculture and allied sectors has been to the tune of Rs.3859 crore showing a growth of 2.35 percent over the last year.

Emphasis has been laid on the collection of arrear revenue and completion of incomplete projects. The departments have also been asked to submit the plan and non-plan budget requirement for 2016-17 by 15th December to Planning & Coordination Department.