BANGALORE: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday released a report on the Government's performance in revenue mobilisation as if in a rejoinder to the demand made by the Congress for the publication of a White Paper on the State's finances.

Mr. Yediiyurappa's report put the revenue for 2005-06 at Rs. 19,649 crore, which surpassed the target of Rs. 18,555 crore. He said collection of commercial taxes and value-added tax (VAT) demonstrated the determination of the coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) to keep its commitments.

Information

Mr. Yediyurappa, who holds the Finance portfolio, told presspersons the Government was not giving in to pressure from any lobby. He said he was making sure that information about release of funds and budgetary allocations for projects announced in the Budget and other schemes was accessible to all. "There are no secrets. When the Legislature is in session, I report to the people by making announcements in the House; at other times, I use the media to reach information to the public," he added. To the Congress leaders who have been demanding a White Paper on the State's finances, Mr. Yediyurappa said: "I have been saying I will ensure that quarterly release of funds become a reality. I have also said there is no funds crunch. The budgetary allocations for new schemes and old are all in place."

The collection of commercial taxes in February, March and April this year was higher compared with that in the corresponding period in the previous two years. The collection was Rs. 991.75 crore in April 2004 and Rs. 1,257.83 crore this year. The figures included compensation received from the Centre on account of VAT losses The State Government received Rs. 135.57 crore in February and Rs. 233.96 crore in March this year.

While the loss of revenue under VAT was estimated at Rs. 2,160 crore in 2005-06 when the tax was introduced, the actual loss was limited to Rs. 1,038.92 crore. In April this year, collection under VAT was Rs. 612.12 crore against an anticipated Rs. 561 crore. This, he said, contradicted the Opposition's claim that the State was suffering a loss of Rs. 2 crore a day in the current year on account of VAT.

Mr. Yediyurappa said collection under VAT had recorded growth. In April this year, VAT collection touched Rs. 612.12 crore compared with Rs. 374. 55 crore in the corresponding month last year.

Excise collection in April this year was Rs. 257.47 crore compared with Rs. 132.33 crore in the corresponding month in 2004.

The revenue from motor vehicle taxes for the past three years was: Rs. 828.88 crore (2003-04), Rs. 1062.92 crore (2004-05) and Rs. 1,166.86 crore (2005-06). The collection under stamp duty and registration fee for the past three years was: Rs. 1,416 crore (2003-04); Rs. 1,890 crore (2004-05) and Rs. 2,373 crore (2005-06).

Mr. Yediyurappa said that on April 17, grants were released to zilla, taluk and gram panchayats for the quarter ending June 2006. A sum of Rs. 573 crores had been released for zilla panchayats, Rs. 872 crore for taluk panchayats and Rs. 465 crore for gram panchayats, he added

He said the plan performance figures included both budget and off-budget expenditures. As on March 1 this year, the budget plan expenditure was Rs. 9,072 crore against a target of Rs, 11,752 crore, he added.

Waiver of dues

Based on the recommendation of the 12th Finance Commission, the State had got the benefit of debt consolidation of Rs. 292 crore, apart from a waiver of dues (to the Centre) of Rs. 358.33 crore on account of fiscal performance in 2004-05.

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