Total divisible pool should be increased to 50pc: Hooda

Total divisible pool should be increased to 50 per cent from current 32.5 per cent of the central taxes as this would help in enabling the state to have more funds for development works, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said today.
Talking to reporters here after a meeting with the Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission Y V Reddy here today, Hooda said that the state government also urged the Commission to revise the weightage of four parameters of population, fiscal capacity distance, area and fiscal discipline.
He said that it was emphasised that instead of using statistics of census 1971, the Commission should use data from the latest census.

The weightage of population should be raised from 25 per cent to 40 per cent, fiscal discipline should be given weightage of 25 per cent as against the existing 17.50 per cent, he said.
"Similarly the percentage of fiscal capacity distance should be decreased from 47.5 per cent to 20 per cent and that of area should be given weightage of 15 per cent instead of 10 per cent," Hooda said, adding these suggestions have been given so that the deserving States might get adequate funds.
If these suggestions are implemented, Haryana's share of funds would increase, he said.

Hooda said that the State Government has also urged the Finance Commission to give a total of Rs 76,706 crore as grant-in-aid to all departments.

He said that it was also suggested that instead of giving grant-in-aid to the States, there should be direct devolution of taxes.
Also, there should be a formula for grant-in-aid. The 13th Finance Commission had given Rs 4200 crore as grant-in-aid, he added.
In reply to a question, Hooda said that with non implementation of GST, the State would bear a loss of Rs 3,000 crore this year which would, after six-seven years increase to Rs 5500 crore per year.
Hooda informed that the tax collection this year would increase by 14 per cent as compared to that of the last financial year.

Meanwhile, Hooda was also fielded questions on the results of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) revealing that Haryana has marched ahead.
Hooda said he felt "bad why Punjab is lagging behind, it should come up. I was born in Punjab".
In reply to a question concerning development of Mullanpur (Punjab) by the Punjab as "New Chandigarh", Hooda said that Chandigarh itself being a "brand name" should not be impersonated.
He questioned, why Mullanpur should not retain its original name adding that when Haryana developed Panchkula, it did not change its name.
He said that today Gurgaon is known all over the world and it would not be appropriate to refer it as "Modern Delhi".

He also cited the example of Chandigarh Airport saying that Punjab had wanted it to be re-named as Mohali Airport, but it has been retained as Chandigarh Airport.