Haryana suffered Rs 10-12 k cr revenue loss during lockdown: Khattar

Haryana suffered a revenue loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore in last two months during COVID-19 lockdown, but things are moving back to rmal after staggered resumption of ecomic activities, Chief Minister Mahar Lal Khattar said on Wednesday.

Asked what was revenue loss suffered by state in two months of lockdown, Khattar said, “It was anywhere between Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore”.

Khattar was replying to reporters’ questions at a press conference here this evening.

He was also asked how much has state's ecomy improved after opening of industries, liquor vends etc.

“We are w in a position to meet our committed expenses -- salaries, pensions, repayment of old debt and its interest and power subsidy,” he replied.

“We are getting Rs 300-350 crore monthly as excise and stamp duty, besides a little bit as GST and some grants from Centre. I can say we have reached break-even level,” he said.

He, however, said for development works and implementing various schemes, state has to depend on loans.

In April, Khattar had expressed apprehension of revenue loss during lockdown.

“Kosh Muloo Dand”, he had said, citing crucial ecomic mantra occurring in Kautiliyan Arthshastra, which implies " treasury is backbone of administration", as he had pointed to revenue losses that state has been facing due to lockdown.

chief minister had said in April that against Rs 6,200 crore monthly revenue income from various sources, “a maximum of Rs 1,600 crore is expected due to coronavirus-led lockdown.

Nearly Rs 1,850 crore goes towards meeting salaries of government employees, Rs 750 crore towards pensions, Rs 650 crore towards social security pension that includes money for old, widows and physically challenged persons.

An amount of Rs 1,700 crore goes towards servicing debts which state has borrowed.

In view of current situation, BJP-JJP government in state has also anunced special financial aides to help poor and people in low income groups like daily wrs, labourers, street vendors and construction workers who have been adversely hit due to lockdown.