Thiruvananthapuram: The surge in taxable and non-taxable revenues has helped Kerala to move ahead admirably despite the crisis, claimed State Finance Minister K N Balagopal. 

The Minister also said that the achievement came at a time when the Opposition and the BJP campaigned about the impending collapse of Kerala economy. A favorable verdict is also expected in the case filed in the Supreme Court against the economic squeeze on the Centre’s part, he added. 

Amounts worth Rs 454.15 crore for Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships, Rs 350 crore for Karunya Projects, Rs 412 crore for KSRTC-KTDFC, Rs 750 crore for Electricity Department, and Rs 550 crore for Supplyco have been allocated. An amount of Rs 1,313 crore has been approved for the second phase of Kozhikode City Development Project. Land acquisition worth Rs 436.15 crores has also been approved for the Kollam Urban Development Project, the minister said.

The state suffered a shortfall of Rs 15,951 crore in the grants to be allotted by the Centre. However, the State can proceed without a fiscal crisis if the developmental and welfare expenditure is reduced, the Finance Minister added.