Date:04/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080459510800.htm

Tamil Nadu

“More funds for State under Central schemes”

Special Correspondent

69 projects being implemented: Karunanidhi

M. Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has received more funds than any other State under Central sector schemes and 69 projects were being implemented at a cost of Rs.41,000 crore, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Sunday.

In a statement here, the Chief Minister said as many as 915 projects were being implemented in all States at a cost of Rs.3,70,000 crore. Tamil Nadu’s share was 11 per cent of this.

“It is a matter of honour, though two atomic power projects in Koodankulam and Kalpakkam alone take Rs.17,000 crore. Besides, Rs.22,000 crore have has been spent on various projects including national highways, development of ports, railway projects and the Sethusamudram project,” the Chief Minister said, recalling Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thankgabalu’s speech in this regard.

Mr. Karunanidhi explained that though the Centre had issued orders for various projects to the tune of Rs.41,000 crore, it did not mean that the entire amount had been allotted to the State. In 2007-08, the allocation was only 4,747 crore.

The Chief Minister said the financial assistance to Tamil Nadu from central tax and plan assistance had increased substantially. “In 2005-06, when the AIADMK was in power, Tamil Nadu received Rs.8,033 crore as share in central tax and plan assistance.

The amount increased to Rs.14,597 crore in 2007-08 and will be Rs.15,073 crore in 2008-09,” he explained.

Mr. Karunanidhi said apart from central assistance, the revenue generated through commercial tax, excise duty, stamp duty, registration fee, vehicle tax and other taxes had gone up after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government assumed office. Commercial taxes brought in Rs.16,646 crore in 2005-06, which went up to Rs.20,798 crore in 2008-09. Likewise, the excise duty collected in 2005-06 was only Rs.3,177 crore. In 2008-09, the collection went up to Rs.5,330 crore.

The Chief Minister said revenue expenditure had increased to Rs.51,422 crore in 2008-09 because of the various welfare schemes implemented by the DMK government. The capital expenditure for the period was Rs.9,373, as more amount has been spent for developing infrastructure.

The total fiscal deficit was Rs.9, 792 crore, which was 2.98 per cent of the GDP of the State. “Though the expenditure has increased, the deficit is well within the target fixed by the Centre and economists,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.