By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 5 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a review meeting of the Finance Department at the Secretariat here on Saturday. During the meeting, he asserted the need for departments to utilise up to 80 per cent of their budget allocations by December. He stressed the importance of implementing a digital system for regular monitoring of budget expenditure and urged departments to focus on medium-term and long-term plans to strengthen the state’s economic framework.
Mentioning the state’s consistent economic growth in recent years, the Chief Minister noted that Uttarakhand’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth rate has exceeded 13 per cent for the past three years. He called for efforts to mobilise new resources to ensure inclusive development and directed secretaries to regularly review budget receipts and expenditures at their level. He also reiterated that the Chief Secretary would be conducting monthly reviews while he himself would be reviewing progress once every three months.
Dhami also insisted on the necessity of increasing GST collection and enhancing revenue receipts. He prioritised centrally funded schemes, particularly those with central and state shares in the ratios of 90:10 and 70:30, and instructed the Planning and Finance Departments to hold regular meetings with other departments to ensure timely and accurate utilisation of budgets.
He further emphasised the importance of innovation and artificial intelligence in achieving the vision of a developed India. Investments in human resource capacity development, education, health, and sports were highlighted as key areas for fostering growth. He called for a thorough analysis of the social and economic impact of government subsidies, ensuring that they are provided only to eligible beneficiaries.
To achieve budget targets, Dhami directed regular reviews of major revenue sources, including state tax, forest, energy, and water tax. He stressed the need for better implementation of schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Ayushman Yojana, alongside reducing market borrowings and focusing on infrastructure development.
During the meeting, it was revealed that mining revenue had increased by approximately ₹400 crore in the current financial year, with over Rs 11,000 crore spent on capital expenditure. The expenditure percentage relative to the budget for the financial year 2024-25 stood at 90 per cent.
Those present at the meeting were Vishwas Dawar, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli and Dilip Jawalkar, Himanshu Khurana, and Manmohan Mainali, who contributed to discussions on strengthening the state’s economic strategies.
