Agartala, Mar 17 (UNI) Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb is scheduled to leave for Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow to seek his support to manage the financial crisis
of the state,for carrying out the poll promises and regular functioning of the government.
Briefing media today about the discussion of cabinet meeting held last night, tourism and transport minister Pranajit Singharoy said the council of ministers in the meeting had a detailed discussion over the report of the finance secretary about the fragile financial health of the government.
He said in the final financial evaluation it was revealed that Tripura was having a deficit amount of
Rs 1588.19 Crore against the total estimated amount of expenditure for the current fiscal. The state has an estimated revenue receipt of Rs 12708.81 Cr for the year 2017-18 and the estimated plan of expenditure was Rs 14,297 Cr.
In order to meet the reasonable expenditure and revenue collection and work, the Finance Department has asked to prepare the proposal for increasing revenue collection and to reduce the expenditure, Mr Singharoy said adding that fiscal deficit was increasing every year and it has come to 6.83 per cent in 2016-17.
Because of financial mismanagement the percentage of the state’s revenue collection has decreased over the year and it was registered at 12.94 per cent in 2016-17. The non-plan expenditure has also indicated a rise in last six years and the estimated amount for 2017-18 is 9877.87 crore, he observed.
In view of the weak financial situation, the state government would focus on judicious expenditure and push on revenue collection as well as stress on job creation, Singharoy commented. Referring to reasons behind the mounting deficit, Mr Singharoy said revenue collection with respect to expenditure is showing a continuous fall – while expenditure was mounting every year.
“Besides, meeting the Prime Minister, the chief minister is scheduled to meet ministers of health, education, industries and commerce to pursue for pushing the development projects and release of funds pending with the various ministries during his brief visit,” Singharoy added.
Reiterating the stand of the state government, he stated that the government was committed to implementing the poll promises made before the election and all necessary arrangements would be made available but it might take a few more months.
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