SHILLONG, March 26 ? Meghalaya Finance Minister AH Scott Lyngdoh today presented a Rs 79.45 crore surplus budget which included additional resources of Rs 10 crore expected to be garnered through hikes in taxes on timber and ?teer?. Laying the budget estimates for the year 2002-2003, Scott Lyngdoh said the estimates envisaged an opening balance of Rs 35.57 crore and a total receipt including receipts under public accounts of Rs 16,353.46. This is against a corresponding expenditure of Rs 16,309.58 crore, resulting in an estimated closing balance of Rs 79.45 crore, he explained.
The additional taxation measures announced by the Finance Minister included an increase in the rate of surcharge on all items under the Meghalaya Sales Tax Act, Meghalaya Purchase Tax Act and Meghalaya Finance Sales Tax Act, excluding motor vehicles and tyres, from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. The surcharge of 10 per cent, imposed on motor vehicles and tyres last year, has been withdrawn with immediate affect, ?keeping in view the dependency of the people of the state on read transport,? he told the Assembly. Amusement and betting tax on ?teer?, legalised form of gambling in the state, stands hiked to 50 per cent from the per sent 40 per cent. Scott also increased the Meghalaya Purchase Tax on timber excluding firewood, from eight per cent to 20 per cent.
He informed that the state?s annual plan for 2002-03 has ben fixed at Rs 545 crore besides a grant of Rs 35 crores under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The plan allocation included Rs 18 crore as a one-time assistance for reconstruction of the State Assembly premises, which was razed in a fire last year. The assistance is also meant for construction of the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court and the Shillong jail.
Later speaking to newsmen, Scott denied that the budget has been prepared with an eye to the Assembly elections next year. ?We have given topmost priority to the road sector which has received 17 per cent of the total outlay?, he said. Power, agriculture and allied sector, rural development, water supply, education and health have also been given high priority, the minister claimed. While admitting that the state government is pursuing the fiscal reforms laid down by the Centre, Scott said the conditions were very harsh. ?We have cut non-plan expenditure by ten per cent but it is very difficult to abolish the vacant posts.?