Maharashtra: Govt tables supplementary demands of ₹ 57,509.71 crore in assembly

The very first day of the monsoon session of the state legislature saw the government tabling supplementary demands of ₹ 57,509.71 crore to allocate funds for various schemes and projects. For the last few years, it has become a habit for governments to present supplementary demands to seek additional funds.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the state finance and planning portfolios, presented these demands on the first day of the three-week monsoon session that began today. Supplementary demands are additional funds sought by the government over budgetary allocations.

The government has primarily allocated these funds for infrastructure projects such as roads, metro rail, and irrigation schemes, as well as for planning and execution of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

The demands include ₹ 1,600 crore for the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Health Scheme, ₹ 1,500 crore for the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar (Destitute) Grant Scheme, scholarships for students from the backward classes, and overall development of socially and economically weaker sections. The largest allocation — ₹ 11,042.76 crore — has been earmarked for grants recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, and it has also made a provision of ₹ 6,952 crore for public health.

Additionally, ₹ 3,228.38 crore has been provisioned for refunds related to stamp duty surcharge to metro projects, municipal corporations, municipal councils, and Zilla Parishads.

The government has allocated ₹ 1,000 crore for the planning and execution of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Of the total supplementary demands, ₹ 19,183.85 crore was for mandatory expenditures, ₹ 34,661.34 crore for planned schemes, and ₹ 3,664.52 crore for centrally-sponsored schemes. Though the gross demand amounts to ₹ 57,509.71 crore, the net financial impact on the state exchequer is ₹ 40,644.69 crore, Pawar said.

Senior Congress leader and party general secretary Sachin Sawant criticised the government move to table supplementary demands. He said that the last two and half years of Shinde government and current tenure of Fadnavis government has seen many moves which fall under financial indiscipline. 

"In the month of march, the government presented supplementary demands just five days before Ajit Pawar was to present state budget. This will ruin the state in the long run," tweeted Sawant.

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