The former Maharashtra finance minister was speaking to reporters on the first day of the state legislature's monsoon session where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds charge of the finance department, tabled supplementary demands of Rs 57,509.71 crore in the assembly to allocate funds for various schemes and projects
Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
Maharashtra NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil on Monday criticised the Mahayuti government after it tabled supplementary demands of Rs 57,509 crore in the legislature, claiming the state's fiscal balance has been severely disrupted, reported news agency PTI.
The state's growing financial burden will lead to injustice towards the poor and marginalised communities, he further claimed.
The former Maharashtra finance minister was speaking to reporters on the first day of the state legislature's monsoon session where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds charge of the finance department, tabled supplementary demands of Rs 57,509.71 crore in the assembly to allocate funds for various schemes and projects.
Supplementary demands are additional funds sought by the government over budgetary allocations.
"In this financial year, the budget has already projected a revenue deficit of Rs 45,891 crore. Now, with the supplementary demands of Rs 57,509 crore, the total shortfall has reached Rs 1.03 lakh crore. This is yet another dubious record of the government," Patil alleged, reported PTI.
The government routinely places supplementary demands before the legislature, but the actual expenditure does not match the promises made on paper, the legislator claimed.
"By the end of the fiscal year, we often find that funds earmarked for the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities remain unspent. This pattern is being repeated this year as well," Patil charged, reported PTI.
If the current trend continues, the state's revenue deficit could go up to Rs 1.5 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore before the next budget, he claimed.
"The government is taking loans and making financial commitments it cannot fulfil. This could lead to a situation where people who are owed money may either take drastic steps or turn against the administration," the NCP (SP) leader said, reported PTI.
Maintaining fiscal balance has now become a serious challenge for the state, and the financial mismanagement is directly affecting welfare spending on the poor and underprivileged, Patil claimed.
The Maharashtra government tabled supplementary demands of Rs 57,509.71 crore in the state legislative assembly on Monday to allocate funds for various schemes and projects.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the state finance and planning minister, presented these demands on the first day of the three-week monsoon session.
Supplementary demands are additional funds sought by the government over budgetary allocations.
The government has primarily allocated these funds for infrastructure projects such as roads, metro rail, and irrigation schemes, as well as for planning and execution of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
The demands include Rs 1,600 crore for the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Health Scheme, Rs 1,500 crore for the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar (Destitute) Grant Scheme, scholarships for students from the backward classes, and overall development of socially and economically weaker sections.
(With inputs from PTI)
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