Panel to explore ways to create revenue for state

The state of Maharashtra tops the charts for being most debt ridden states in the nation. To address the issue, the state government will be possibly looking out for avenues to earn more revenue. The finance department of the state has constituted a ‘high level’ committee to look out for avenues to garner more revenue for the state.

The high level committee encompasses of senior level bureaucrats which will study the issue and make recommendations to in order to improve state’s financial health. Sudhir Mungatiwar, Minister of State for Finance and Planning had issued directions in this regard last month.

The state’s finance minister felt the need that there should be increase in state’s revenue. The State will also tap newer sources of revenue, which will be helpful in generating funds for the purpose of development works.

Dinesh Kumar Jain, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) will head the committee. While Sujata Saunik, Principal Secretary (Fiscal Reforms) will be member secretary, Sudhir Shrivastav, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and State Excise), V Giriraj Additional chief Secretary (Expenditure), Manukumar Shrivastav, Principal Secretary (Revenue), Vijay Kumar Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Sitaram Kunte, Principal Secretary (Education), Manoj Saunik, Principal Secretary (Transport), Nitin Karir, Principal Secretary (Urban DevelopmentI) are the other members of the committee.

From the very constitution of the committee one can judge that major areas of focus for exploring new avenues in revenue by the state are Home Department, State Excise Department, Transport, Agriculture, Higher and Technical Education Department and Urban development Department. The committee has been entrusted with the responsibility to make recommendations for creating additional financial resources for the state government.