Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Ripun Bora has raised serious concerns regarding the Assam government’s fiscal management, accusing it of “blatantly violating” financial rules in its capital expenditures. Speaking to reporters at Rajiv Bhawan, Bora referenced a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which, after reviewing the state’s financial accounts for the latest fiscal year, underscores a troubling misuse of loans designated for productive investments. He emphasized that these funds have instead been allocated to consumption-driven initiatives, particularly in beneficiary schemes.
Bora highlighted alarming irregularities in the state’s financial discipline, stating that the Assam government has consistently deviated from established financial protocols. The CAG report indicates that, despite an allocated budget of Rs 1,69,966 crore for the 2023–24 fiscal year, the actual expenditure only totaled Rs 1,39,449 crore. While the government claimed to have saved Rs 30,516 crore, Bora pointed out that total revenues fell short at Rs 1,38,830 crore, casting doubt on the validity of these purported savings.
Additionally, he revealed that around 50 government departments had failed to submit utilization certificates for nearly Rs 18,669 crore, clearly breaching financial regulations. Key departments like finance, education, and social welfare are included in this list, and managing vast sums outside proper accounting frameworks signifies potential misappropriation of public resources.
The Congress leader further expressed concern over the state’s rising debt, warning that, if the current trend continues, Assam’s total debt could soar to Rs 1,74,000 crore by March 31, 2026. Almost 99 percent of this debt is expected to be repaid-along with interest-over the next decade, which could lead to increased taxes or significant cuts in development spending.
From 2019-20 to 2023-24, Assam’s debt surged by 103 percent, reaching Rs 1,46,927 crore. The burden of interest payments has also escalated dramatically, rising from Rs 2,963 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 9,467 crore in 2023-24. The CAG report notes that only 74 percent of the supplementary budget request of Rs 30,210 crore for 2023–24 was genuinely necessary. Between 2021 and 2024, 65 percent of loans acquired by the government were spent on various beneficiary schemes and grants, contradicting the principle of “loan for investment, not for consumption.”
Bora shared additional troubling insights, including that financial accounts for 75 autonomous councils, development boards, and 39 state enterprises have yet to be submitted. While vital sectors such as education and health faced budget cuts of 17.70 percent and 5.21 percent respectively, an excess of Rs 2,172 crore was expended outside the budget disguised as loan repayments.
Terming these findings a warning for the future of Assam, Bora urged the state government to foster greater transparency and accountability in its financial operations.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/12/09/capital-expenditure-assam-cong-accuses-state-govt-of-violating-financial-rules/
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Publish Date: 2025-12-09 19:59:00
