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Poll-bound Odisha presented a Vote-on-Account for the April-July period of 2014-15, estimating the total outgo at Rs 76,006.87 crore for the ensuing fiscal, 26.04 per cent higher than the outlay of Rs 60,303 crore for 2013-14.
Bereft of any new scheme, the Vote on Account has reaffirmed focus on existing schemes on areas like agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure development, poverty eradication, health, education, rural development, social security and social welfare.
The interim budget has a provision of Rs 100 crore for 2014-15 as equity contribution for commercially viable railway projects in the state to be executed through special purpose vehicles (SPVs).
The government has anticipated a revenue surplus of Rs 1120.13 crore by the close of 2014-15 projecting revenue receipt and revenue expenditure of Rs 62916.76 crore and Rs 61796.44 crore respectively. Fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 9856.03 crore by the end of next fiscal, 2.98 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) estimated at Rs 3,30,390 crore.
The State Plan size has been tentatively pegged at Rs 35,000 crore for 2014-15 which includes Rs 2000 crore for public sector undertakings (PSUs). The net Non-Plan expenditure is projected at Rs 42,422 crore.
"Since there is no tradition of announcing any new scheme in the Vote on Account, we will continue our focus on existing schemes. Emphasis will also be on stepping up capital spending. We will seek approval of the assembly for spending Rs 34,829.36 crore in the April-July period of 2014-15. The new government will seek appropriation for the full financial year”, said finance minister Prasanna Acharya.
The state government, will, however, seek full appropriation for calamity expenditure for which Rs 1143.63 crore has been estimated.
The state's own tax and non-tax revenue has been pegged at Rs 27512.65 crore, 12 per cent rise over Rs 24580 crore in 2013-14.
In the interim budget, the government has provided for its flagship programmes- Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana (Rs 225 crore), Biju KBK Yojana (Rs 120 crore), Mo Kudia Yojana (Rs 150.10 crore), Mamata (Rs 222.63 crore), Biju Setu Yoajana (Rs 163 crore), Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (Rs 90 crore), rice at rs one per kg (Rs 1327 crore), Biju Kandhamal 'O' Gajapati Yojana (Rs 28.50 crore) and Biju Saharanchal Bidyutikaran Yojana (Rs 20 crore).
There are allocations for other important programmes- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme- AIBP (Rs 1430 crore), externally aided projects (Rs 2325 crore), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund- RIDF (Rs 2200 crore) and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission- JNNURM (Rs 480 crore).
