Liability figure miscalculated: Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi

GUWAHATI: While new BJP government has claimed that it has inherited liability of Rs 10,000 crore from the Congress government, former Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi said that there is miscalculation in the liability figure.

Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented a whitepaper on state finance in state assembly where he claimed that Assam has impeding liability of Rs 10,018.93 crore for 2016-17 and state is facing tough fiscal situation.

Gogoi said that in liability bill Sarma has added implication of pay revision in 2016-17 which stands at Rs 4800 crore. “The 7th pay commission’s recommendation is yet to come so how can it be a liability of our government. The whitepaper said nothing about the cash in hand and the amount of money which state government is due to receive.”

According to the whitepaper the committed liabilities is due to former chief minister special packages and announcement Rs 1358.29 Crore, schemes initiated from Special Plan Assistance (SPA) Rs 1541.34 Crore, Regular dearness allowances for employees Rs 900 Crores besides implication of pay revision in 2016-17 Rs 4800 crore, past dues of state share of Centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) to released Rs 380 Crore and outstanding liabilities of public works department Rs 1039.30 crore.