(The Tribune)
With the financial year about to end, the state government has decided to raise a loan of Rs 800 crore to meet its developmental needs and pay dearness allowance (DA) to its employees. The issue of mounting debt trap has been a major cause of worry for the successive governments with little resource mobilisation. While Rs 500-crore loan has been taken for a period of 10 years, Rs 300 crore is to be repaid in three years.
Sources said Rs 800-crore loan has been taken to pay the DA to 2.25 lakh employees ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. “The government will require more funds to dole out sops to woo the electorate,” said an official. The employees are a force to reckon with and the government is keen on paying them the DA along with this month’s salary.
