Deliberations begin on Odisha Budget 2015-16

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 27:

The pre-budget meeting convened by Finance minister Pradip Amat to discuss the contours of the Odisha budget for 2015-16 got underway here this morning.

Former Finance ministers, former Finance secretaries, senior officials of the Finance department and senior business journalist are taking part in thw meeting, which began at the State Guest House at11 am.

Representatives of trading units would be present in the second phase of the meeting, sources said.

Basing on the outcome of the meeting, the state government would prepare the full-fledged budget.

Despite the fall in revnue from the mining sector and by way of water tax, the government is confiedent that it would not affect the size of the budget.

“The government is banking on substantial revenue from the auction of mines, besides increased assistance from the 14th Finance Commission. I am sure the size of the budget would be more than the Rs 80, 000 crore it was last  year,” said Dilip Bisoi, senior journalist who is taking part in the deliberations.

It may be mentioned that the Finance minister Pradip Amat had recently said that the state has been passing through financial crisis while reduced Central assistance had affected its development.

He, however, said that this would not affect the size of the state budget as the government is trying for financial assistance from other sources.