Won't let any impediment affect recovery of economy post-COVID: CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Mar 16: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said his government would not let any impediment hit the speedy economic recovery post-COVID in the State.
"You all know what kind of situation was created due to COVID-19 in the last two years. The effect was not just limited to health sector but impacted every sphere of our life and put a brake on our economic development," Bommai said while participating in a discussion on the budget for 2022-23.
He said Karnataka was quick to recoup from the COVID effect once the infections came under control.
Reading out the achievements of his 'Amrit' schemes as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' (platinum jubilee of Indian independence) which were launched on August 15, 2021, and various pro-people policies including health, education, transport, industrial development, infrastructure, skill development, nutrition, woman and child welfare, and agriculture schemes, Bommai said he would firmly move to achieve the goals set by his government.
Regarding the Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah's concern over the increasing borrowings, Bommai said in the last two years the revenues were not up to the mark due to COVID-19.
In 2020-21, there was a reduction of Rs 11,444 crore in the commercial tax, Rs 2,079 crore in motor vehicles-related revenue, Rs 1,500 crore in the stamp and registration and Rs 540 crore in other revenues, the Chief Minister said. He said there was reduction of Rs 6,897 crore of the central aid.
"Overall, there was a reduction of Rs 21,835 crore in the revenue in 2020-21. While on the one hand there was reduction in revenue, on the other hand the spending on health increased due to COVID-19," said Bommai
The Chief Minister explained that limiting the fiscal deficit to three per cent was ideal in normal circumstances and not in an abnormal situation caused by the pandemic.
He said the borrowings of Karnataka doubled when Siddaramiaah was Chief Minister.
"From the time we got independence to 2013-14, the total borrowings were Rs 1.38 lakh crore but from 2013-14 to 2018-19 when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister who also held finance portfolio, the total borrowings increased to Rs 2.96 lakh crore. This was 107 per cent increase in borrowings in just five years," said Bommai.
He said this happened despite there was not any emergency like COVID-19 and the situation was normal and the economy was booming.
"In 2019-20, the borrowing increased to Rs 3.27 lakh. In just four years, the borrowings saw an increase of 58 per cent despite all these problems (COVID and floods)," he pointed out.
Bommai refuted the charge that the Central grant to Karnataka has reduced and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been generously giving financial grant to the State.
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Taj Mahal top earning ASI monument through ticket sales from FY19-20 to FY23-24: Govt
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI): The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra earned the "highest income" through the sale of tickets among the ASI-protected monuments from FY19-20 to FY23-24, according to data shared by the government.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha.
He was asked the amount that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received from selling entry tickets to various monuments in the last five years, year-wise and monument-wise; and the monuments that have received the highest income through selling entry tickets in the last five years.
In his response, the minister shared the data in a tabular form for cycles of financial years ranging from FY19-20 to FY23-24.
According to the data, Taj Mahal earned the top slot for all five years.
The Mughal-era architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jehan in the 17th century and it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
In FY19-20, the Agra Fort in Agra and Qutub Minar in Delhi were in the second and third positions.
In FY20-21, the Group of Monuments Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu and Sun Temple, Konark were in the second and third positions. In FY23-24, Qutub Minar and Red Fort of Delhi were in the second and third positions.
