Telangana deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka focuses on Boost non-tax revenues, tap central funds; report expected by June-end
Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka
HYDERABAD: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday directed officials to seriously focus on increasing non-tax revenues and to secure a deserving share of central funds for
Telangana
.
A meeting of the cabinet's assets sub-committee was held at the secretariat, attended by ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, along with Bhatti Vikramarka, who is heading it. The committee reviewed all the ongoing infrastructure projects and development works. The committee has been tasked to submit a report to the govt with recommendations of the budget that could be released to priority projects by categorising them into short and long-term projects.
The report has to be submitted by June-end.
Bhatti emphasised the need to not only enhance non-tax revenues but also to secure central funds. "The Congress govt, without discontinuing the welfare schemes launched during the previous BRS govt tenure, is also implementing new welfare programmes worth 33,600 crore. In the 2023-24 financial year, after coming to power, the govt faced revenue loss from the Outer Ring Road and excise income," he said.
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Bhatti listed out schemes like Rythu Bharosa, Indiramma Atmiya Bharosa and free electricity among others, and said the govt would implement all its assurances.
During the review, the ministers discussed some of the imbalances in budgetary allocations - with some wings receiving excessive funds while others receiving less. He instructed officials to distribute the budget equally across all departments and ensure uniform development.
Major pending projects should be prioritised and completed as per the targets fixed, he told the officials.
The deputy CM emphasised that budget spending should align with the state's needs and priorities.
Departmental expenditures must be rationalised and managed based on priority. Expenditures should be made only as required. He insisted that the state must operate realistically and logically in terms of spending. All officials were instructed to concentrate on increasing revenue, particularly non-tax revenue.
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