Kerala revenue deficit at Rs 3,367 cr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's revenue deficit for 2008-09 has been placed at Rs 3,367 crore according to the Economic Review presented in the state assembly on Thursday. This is 2.04% of the gross state domestic product.

The revenue deficit for 2007-08 was Rs 3,785 crore, which was 2.55% of the GSDP. The total public debt of the state stood at Rs 61,653 core.

The fiscal deficit for 2008-09 was placed at Rs 5,626 crore, which translates to 3.41% of the SDP, as against a fiscal deficit of Rs 6,100 crore in 2007-08 which was 4.11% of the SDP.

According to the economic review, the government's own tax revenue realized in 2007-08 was Rs 13,669 crore, and the budget estimate for 2008-09 is placed at Rs 15,781 crore. Sales tax contributed the maximum share of this at Rs 9,372 crore or 69% of the own tax revenues.