Question : DEBT AGAINST PUNJAB



(a) the debt and interest amount owed by the State of Punjab to the Union Government as on December 31, 12001; and

(b) the amount due as debt and interest from the Punjab State to Union Government during each of the last three years?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI GINGEE N. RAMACHANDRAN) :

(a) !Outstanding loans of Government of Punjab pertaining to Ministry of Finance amounts to Rs. 12,463.84 crores as on 31.03.2001. The amount of interest outstanding as on 31.03.2001 is Nil.

(b) The amount of debt and interest due and repaid by Government of Punjab pertaining to Ministry of Finance during the last three years is as under:

(Rs. in crore)
Years	Principal	Interest
1998-99	1244.62	1500.46
1999-2000 1094.75 1687.89 12001-01 594.88 1176.10