| Rs 1,884.87 cr savings not surrendered in state treasury, downward variation of Rs 1,712 cr reported | | Unrealistic estimates found in JK’s fiscal set-up | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 16: A huge saving in both revenue as well as the capital section of the budget has been reported as against the appropriation of Rs 11,053.29 crore, the actual expenditure was Rs 9,168.41 crore resulting in overall savings of Rs 1,884.87 crore (17 per cent). This showed that budget estimates were made either unrealistic or departments did not disburse the amount during 2018-19 and also the savings were not surrendered.
According to the documents in possession of Early Times, the Jammu and Kashmir State Budget Manual stipulates that the Budget of the State is based on the departmental estimates submitted by the Controlling Officers. Both the departmental and the district estimate should receive careful personal attention of the officers who submit them and should be as accurate as possible. It was noticed that the Revised Estimates for 2018-19 for Own Tax Revenue projection was Rs 11,538 crore, while actual realization was Rs 9,826 crore, resulting in downward variation of Rs 1,712 crore, 15.29 per cent below the original forecast. Similarly, Non-tax Revenue for the year 2018-19 was projected at Rs 5,727 crore, while actual realization was Rs 4,349 crore, resulting in less realization of Rs 1,378 crore, corresponding to 24.07 per cent decrease against the original projection.
Documents reveal further that the actual realization of State Own Tax Revenue was less than the estimates of collection and varied between 1.62 per cent to 15.29 per cent during the year 2014-15 to 2018-19, whereas in the case of State own Non-Tax Revenue the actual realization fell short by 37.29 percent during the year 2014-15. In 2015-16 the actual realization of State’s own Non Tax Revenue was 13.26 per cent more than the estimates and during the year 2016-17 to 2018-19, the State’s own Non-Tax Revenue realization ranged between 19.06 per cent to 24.06 per cent less than the estimates. The State fell short of its revised estimates for Non-Tax Revenue mainly due to short realization under power receipts.
Reports are also coming to the fore that transactions which initially arise in the State Treasuries but are adjustable by the PAO/Defence are placed under suspense for eventual adjustments. An amount of Rs 292.34 crore, Rs 13.94 crore, Rs 5.20 crore and Rs 3.57 crore paid by the State Treasuries on behalf of the Central Pension Accounting Officer, New Delhi, Controller of Defence Accounts, Allahabad, Controller of Defence Accounts, Northern Command, Jammu and Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer (FA&CAO) Northern Railways respectively, ending March 2019 are still adjustable in the accounts of the State Government due to non-submission of vouchers to the respective quarters by the treasuries or non-response from the Central Pension Accounting Officer, Defence and Railways Department. The matter needs to be actively pursued with the departments concerned as huge amounts are reimbursable to the State. |
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