Replying to a written question raised by Lunawada MLA Hirabhai Patel during the question hour, state Finance Minister Saurabh Patel said Gujarat owes Rs 1,65,742 crore as public debt.
He said the government has paid a cumulative amount of Rs 54,349 crore as interest and principle during last three financial years.
In 2012-13, the state government has paid Rs 10,883 crore as interest and Rs 6,537 crore as principle amount against the loans taken by the state, the Minister said.