Lok Sabha permits govt to spend addl Rs 3.73 lakh crore

New Delhi, December 20

The second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants authorising the government to spend an additional Rs 3.73 lakh crore during the current fiscal was cleared in the Lok Sabha amid protest by the opposition over multiple issues.

The extra spending include infusing over Rs 62,000 crore into the company that holds residual assets and liabilities of Air India. Another Rs 58,430 crore is meant for additional fertiliser subsidy.

A sum of Rs 53,123 crore is meant for pending export incentives and Rs 22,039 crore to the Rural Development Ministry for transfer to National Rural Employment Guarantee Fund.

The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home have been, respectively, earmarked Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 4,000 crore for additional spending.

Replying to a discussion on the demands, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured the House the government would take action to moderate prices of edible oil and other essential items. She said banks have recovered about Rs 13,109 crore from asset sale of fugitives, including Vijay Mallya. — TNS