No new taxes as U’khand FM presents surplus Budget

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 16

Uttarakhand Finance Minister Indira Hiryadesh today presented a Rs 32,310.07 crore revenue surplus budget for the year 2015-2016, aimed at appeasing all sections of society. The minister did not propose fresh taxes, maintaining that the state’s tax receipts were in good shape.

The estimated revenue receipts for 2015-2016 have been put at Rs 25,777.67 crore and total tax revenue receipts in 2015-16 are estimated to be Rs 14,989.57 crore, showing an increase of 23.30 per cent.

The finance minister said the budgetary allocations had been made taking into consideration the withdrawal of several Centrally funded schemes. The estimated income of the state for 2015-2016 through its own resources is estimated at Rs 9,670.30 crore. The state’s share in Central taxes is Rs 5,526.08 crore which is 24 per cent of the state’s revenue receipts.

The surplus revenue would be used for creating “infrastructure like roads, investment in higher education and public amenities. The fiscal deficit has been estimated to the tune of Rs 4,101.78 crore, which is well within the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act”, she said.

The minister said after setting up gender cell, the government has promoted women friendly schemes.