First supplementary estimates for 6,522 crore presented by OPS

“The first supplementary estimates are presented to enable recoupment to the contingency fund for advances made from the fund,” said Panneerselvam, who holds the Finance portfolio.

Major allocations include Rs 2,519.25 crore sanctioned to State Transport Undertakings (STUs), and Rs 1,919.75 crore to State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

The sum allocated to STUS would cover settlement of retirement benefits of retirees, salary recovery dues of employees and settlement of motor vehicle accident compensation to victims.

The grant for SDRF would include Rs 120 crore already sanctioned towards taking up works to mitigate drinking water supply problems in urban and rural areas as part of drought rehabilitation measures in addition to Rs 1,799.75 crore, which takes the total amount to Rs 1,919.75 crore.

Panneerselvam said that the state has accorded administrative sanction to utilise Rs 608 crore from the Infrastructure Development Fund, for improving and upgrading 1,435.96 km of 460 panchayat union roads and panchayat roads on a par with other district roads and an additional sanction of Rs 300 crore for periodical maintenance of the state highways and major district roads.

Regarding funds to Greater Chennai Corporation, Coimbatore and Salem Corporations, the state would spend Rs 793.81 crore as interest free ways and means advance.

Panneerselvam said that the state has accorded its revised administrative sanction of Rs 594.58 crore towards land acquisition for the formation of bypass, ring road and six-lane roads. “State has extended Rs 300 crore to Tamil Nadu Cements (TANCEM) as ways and means advance,”

he noted.

While allocation of Rs 177.86 crore as state’s share for the payment of compensation claims under National Agricultural Insurance Scheme figured in the first supplementary estimates, an additional grant of Rs 268.07 crore for Micro Irrigation Scheme under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was provided. A sum of Rs 286 crore had been sanctioned for the implementation of the scheme for diversification of trawlers from Palk Bay into Deep Sea fishing boats, in which a sum of Rs 19.8 crore was included.

The revenue deficit for 2017-2018 would increase over and above the budgeted Rs 15,930 crore mark, according to the review of trends in Receipts and Expenditure in relation to the Budget Estimates 2017 – 2018 presented by the Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. The report attributed the increase to the implementation of 7th Pay Commission’s revision, which would incur an additional impact of Rs 6,480 crore.

The report also cited fall in liquor sales as primary reason for the dip in total revenue receipts. It also stated that steps such as revision of excise duty and base rates of IMFL are mooted to mop up revenue.