Maharashtra government seeks nod for supplementary budget of ₹4,284 crore

This brings the supplementary expenditure for the current fiscal to ₹36,055 crore.

The Maharashtra government on Monday tabled a supplementary budget worth ₹4,284 crore for approval in the state Assembly, on the first day of the budget session. This brings the supplementary expenditure for the current fiscal to ₹36,055 crore.

NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Dhananjay Munde on the first day of the budget session at Vidhan Bhavan on Monday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

In the winter session held in November, the government had raised ₹20,326-crore supplementary demand – expenditure in addition to the budget amount, which requires the legislature’s approval. The amount will be added to the state budget for 2018-19, which was worth ₹3.01 lakh crore.

The supplementary demand has a provision of ₹2,000 crore for drought mitigation measures. “The state on February 12 approved ₹2,000 crore from its contingency fund towards drought relief work. It was an additional expenditure which needs the state’s approval,” said state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. “The state has so far spent ₹2,900 crore on drought mitigation measures.”

Almost half the state is currently reeling under drought, which has led to huge losses to farmers. More than 85.76 lakh hectares of the total cultivable land is hit, with drought and rabi sowing only on 29.6 lakh hectares – 52% of the average – till December-end.

Mungantiwar said the previous Congress-NCP discriminated against freedom fighters while giving them pension. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court has now ordered removal of the anomaly, which the government is complying with.

The supplementary demands also incorporate a provision of ₹305.30 crore on regular milk purchase and conversion of additional milk to milk powder. Also, ₹19.50 crore has been sought for contribution to the state disaster response fund.