No overdraft in last 16 years, revenue deficit brought down, growth higher than national GDP: Gujarat minister

Gandhinagar: Gujarat minister Saurabh Patel said, the better financial discipline of BJP government in Gujarat has helped it to bring down the revenue deficit from 27.1% in 1990 to 16.9% now. Patel said the revenue of the state went up without any hike in taxes and its growth rate was higher than national GDP rate.

He said, thanks to financial discipline, Gujarat has not taken overdraft in last 16 years. The State has been revenue surplus for last 8 years. The State’s income was Rs 20,000 crore in 2004-2005 which is now Rs 1.49 lakh crore, that too without hike in any tax. State’s debt was 13.50% in 2001-2002, but it has come down to 8.47%. While the national average of GDP growth is 6.1%, it is10.7% in Gujarat which is 2% higher than any other state.