Puducherry L-G holds pre-budget meeting with CM, officials

Puducherry Consultative Committee discusses budget plans under Lieutenant Governor's chairmanship, aiming for full Budget presentation by March.

The Puducherry Consultative Committee for Transformation (PCCT), which was earlier known as State Planning Board, met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan at the Chief Secretariat on Tuesday.

The meeting attended by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, his Cabinet colleagues, Opposition leader R. Siva, Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan and senior officials held preliminary discussion on presenting a full Budget for the next financial year. The draft of the budget outlay would be fixed after presentation of the Union Budget.

The Union Budget would give a picture of the Normal Central Assistance for the Union Territory and any other funding from the Central government. The next meeting of the PCCT is likely to be held after February 15, sources said.

At the meeting, a detailed discussion was held on the progress of tax collection, spending on schemes and capital expenditure requirements. Unlike in past years, the government was planning to present a full Budget by the end of March. For the current fiscal, the government first presented a vote on account of ₹5,187 crore and into four months of the fiscal presented a full Budget of ₹12,700 crore outlay.