Where is Punjab placed?
As per the Budget speech, (Part-A, page14,) public debt was likely to increase by Rs 4,551 crore in 2000-01from Rs 23,758 crore (1999-2000) to Rs 28, 309 crore by the close of the current financial year. Though the public debt has increased to Rs 4,551 crore, as per the Budget speech (page 9), capital formation/expenditure has been to the tune of Rs 1,518 crore in 2000-01. This means the total debt increased by Rs 4,551 crore. And out of this increased debt only Rs 1,518 crore was utilised for capital projects and the remaining for meeting the day-to-day expenses of running the government. How good is such financial management? Is the trend likely to be the same in next years Budget? Perhaps, yes. In his speech, (Part-B, page 74,) this is clearly indicated. According to it, government expenditure will be Rs 13,956 crore under revenue account and Rs 1,454 crore under capital accounta total of Rs 15,411 crore. Therefore, to meet the balance requirement, the government will have to raise
