Regardless of the coronavirus crisis, the revenue collection of the Odisha government has climbed by nearly 4 pc to Rs 29,411.29 crore during the April-November period of the current FY, an official stated on Thursday. The collection from own tax and other sources was at Rs 28,402 crore in the year-ago period, state finance department's secretary A K Meena said.

The entire non-tax revenue grew by 23.29 pc to Rs 10,462 crore during the first 8 months of the current FY, he said. The total budget utilization in infrastructure, social, agriculture and allied sectors recorded about Rs 60,000 crore by the end of November this year, Meena said.

Chief Secretary A K Tripathy directed officials to focus on speedy implementation of projects by utilizing the budgetary allocations. The departments of water resources, rural development, public works, housing and urban development were asked to prioritise identified strategic projects and complete them within the stipulated time.

Meena said there would be no dearth of funds for project implementation. Development Commissioner S C Mohapatra, who will take the charge of chief secretary from Friday, directed officials to monitor projects of the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Park Authority to improve the revenue of forest parks

Airtel, Jio consolidating market share, report by IIFL securities

Mandatory payment of at least 1 pc for 45,000 taxpayers: DoR sources