GUWAHATI, Feb 24 � The State is likely to have an amount of Rs 10,180 crore as the estimated plan allocation in its budget for the financial year of 2012-13. This estimate is made basing on the rate of 12 per cent increase in the plan estimates over that of the previous year. During the current financial year, the State had Rs 9,000 crore as its plan allocation.
Disclosing this at a press conference here, Principal Secretary of the State�s Finance Department H S Das today expressed the hope that the above anticipated amount may mount further following the discussion of the Chief Minister with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
In reply to questions, the Principal Secretary said the State could spend 73.53 per cent of the plan amounts in 2008-09 fiscal. In 2009-2010 fiscal, it could spend 88.89 per cent of the plan amount, while in 2010-2011 fiscal, it could spend 95.95 per cent of the plan amount. Efforts are there to spend the plan amount during the current financial year at the 2010-2011rate, he said.
However, he clarified that the above percentage does not include the externally-aided projects.
Central assistance: There is no scope for any lapse of Central Plan Assistance unless the Plan expenditure falls short of Rs 6,289 crore, which is the Central Assistance to the State�s current financial year�s Plan outlay of Rs 9,000 crore. So far, the State has been able to spend Rs 3,047 crore of this Central Assistance. The process of implementation of the regular budget of the State started four months late this year due to the elections to the State Assembly, the Principal Secretary said.
He maintained, the State would have to depend much on its own resources this time while making allocations for various other purposes for the next financial year, as, due to the economic slowdown, significant hike in the flow of central fund may not materialize, he said.
Tax growth: The State has registered a 33 per cent growth of tax till January this year, over that of the last year. It is earning more tax from the service, construction and trade and commerce sectors, the Principal Secretary said.
