Kerala''s Revenue Deficit Declines In ''06-07

Thiruvananthapuram: The revenue deficit of Kerala witnessed a fall in 2006-07 as compared to the previous year.As per the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the year, which was tabled in the State Assembly, the revenue receipts grew by 18.9 per cent (Rs 2,892 crore), while the expenditure increased by 13 per cent (Rs 2,401 crore). This resulted in a fall of Rs 491 crore in revenue deficit over the previous year. The increase in revenue receipts was mainly contributed by tax revenue (Rs 2,163 crore) and the State''s share of Union taxes and duties (Rs 694 crore). The tax revenue rose by 22 per cent to Rs 11,942 crore from Rs 9,779 crore in the previous year. Taxes on sales, trade and others were the major source of the State''s own tax revenue (72 per cent), followed by stamps and registration fees (13 per cent), State excise (eight per cent) and tax on vehicles (six per cent). On the non-tax revenue side, receipts from forest and wildlife (19 per cent), State lotteries (25 per cent), education, sports, arts and culture (11 per cent) and interest receipts, dividends and profits (eight per cent) were the main contributing factors.