Question : BORROWING BY UNION GOVERNMENT

(a) whether drought situation have forced the Government to over borrow in the current financial year;

(b) if so, to what extent the drought have forced the Government to borrow more than the budgeted target for fiscal 2002-2003;

(c) to what extent the drought had affected1 economy;

(d) whether any assessment has been made by the Government;

(e) if so, the total amount borrowed by the Government uptil now;

(f) to what extent it was more compared to the last financial year; and

(g) to what extent it has pushed the fiscal deficit higher than the budgeted levels?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (SHRI ANANDRAO VITHOBA ADSUL):

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) and (d) Additional expenditure on drought relief measures will be met from within the budget provision.

(e) and (0 Gross borrowing of Rupees 119000 crore has been completed upto November 20, 2002, which is 83.55% of BE 2002-03. During the corresponding period last year, gross borrowing of Rupees 107000 crore had been completed, which was 93.57% of BE 2001-02.

(g) The gross fiscal deficit at the end of first half of the financial year is Rs. 57746 crore, which is 42.6% of BE 2002-03. At the end of first half of 2001-02, the gross fiscal deficit stood at Rs. 57262 crore, which was 49.2% of BE 2001-02.