Odisha achieves 20% growth in revenue collection

Revenue collection in Odisha grew by around 20 per cent, while Plan expenditure grew by 28 per cent at the end of December 2015, a senior official said.
Revenue generation from own tax sources this fiscal stood at Rs 15,118 crore at the end of December, recording a growth of 23.62 per cent over the same period the last fiscal, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) R Balakrishnan said.
Revenue generation from non-tax sources has been to the tune of Rs 4,991 crore, which is 9.38 per cent more than that of the previous year.
State Plan Expenditure grew 28 per cent over the corresponding period last fiscal and stood at Rs 24,750 crore, Balakrishnan said at the meeting of secretaries chaired by Chief Secretary A P Padhi.

Complementing the secretaries for their performance in revenue earning and plan expenditure, Padhi asked them to focus on incomplete projects and consolidate the developmental initiatives already taken.
According to an official release, Padhi also asked them to take up field tours seriously as per directions of the Chief Minister, as this exercise has yielded fruitful results.

Balakrishnan suggested that departments focus on arrear revenue collection and submission of utilisation certificates, the release said.
The new 'open budget' initiative was also discussed in the meeting.
This year, the state government has launched an open budget initiative to make the budgetary process more participative.

Suggestions have been invited from members of the public, advocacy groups and other stakeholders for formulation of the state's Annual Budget, 2016-17.
The suggestions will be received up to January 15. So far, more than 800 suggestions have been received.
The Centre for Excellence in Fiscal Policy and Taxation has been engaged for analysing these suggestions.
The Chief Secretary advised the finance department to send the segregated suggestions to respective departments for their consideration and views, the release said.