The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for the year 2013-14 slammed the Gujarat Government for showing revenue expenditure of more than Rs1,600 crore as revenue surplus. The CAG report tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday said the State Government falsely budgeted and booked expenditure of Rs1,462.75 crore on account of grants-in-aid and expenditure of Rs170.75 crore on account of subsidy under the capital section instead of revenue section. The report pointed out that, in the year 2014-14 the State Government saw a decline in its revenue surplus of Rs4,717 crore by Rs853 crore over the previous year. As against an increase of Rs5,601 crore in revenue expenditure over the previous year, the decrease in the revenue surplus during the year 2013-14 was on account of Rs4,717 crore revenue receipts.
“Gujarat’s fiscal deficit increased by Rs1,930 crore in 2013-14 over previous year on account of increase of Rs1,450 crore (6.83%) in capital expenditure. Increase of Rs1,930 crore in fiscal deficit together with an increase of Rs1,171 crore in interest payment resulted in increase of Rs759 crore in primary deficit from Rs4,331 crore in 2012-13 to Rs5,090 crore in 2013-14,” said the report. According to the report, there was a lack of monitoring on the part of the State Government in utilisation of grants. The report further stated that different autonomous bodies didn’t submit or delayed submission of utilisation certificate to the tune of Rs7,420.40 crore.
The State’s fiscal deficit increased by Rs1,930 crore in 2013-14 over previous year on account of increase of Rs1,450 crore in capital expenditure, the report revealed. As many as 20 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Gujarat incurring losses of over Rs1,000 crore, revealed the CAG report. According to the CAG report, the State Government run PSUs incurred the cumulative loss of Rs1,111.85 crore for the year 2013-14. However, the report also mentioned that of the 72 Gujarat Government run PSUs, 46 are making profit. In the past three years, the State PSUs incurred cumulative loss in tune of Rs3,278.29 crore, said the report. “Though majority of the PSUs earned overall profits, there were instances of deficiencies in financial management, planning, implementation of projects, running of operations and monitoring,” said the report.