The total loan burden of the State Government was Rs 73,864.66 crore by end of 2017-18, and it is expected that the loan burden would reach Rs 91,943.68 crore by end of the current year, 2018-19. 

Finance Minister Shashi Bhushan Behera informed this in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MLA Dilip Ray on Monday.

The Minister said loan burdens by end of financial years, 2006-07 and 2010-1, were Rs 37,249.51 crore and Rs 39,136.91 crore, respectively.

It was revealed from the figures that the amount of repayment of loans and interest, when put together, was more that the loans the State Government had incurred by September-end in 2006-07 and 2010-11. By Septemer-end 2006-07, the State Government had incurred a total loan of Rs 2,643.80 crore and repaid Rs 1,850.74 crore towards loan and Rs 3,188.43 crore towards interest. Similarly by September-end 2010-11, the State Government incurred a total loan of Rs 3,490.46 crore and repaid Rs 2,083.59 crore towards loan and Rs 3,043.17 crore towards interest.

However, the amount of repayment of loan and interest (together) compared to loans incurred was very less in 2017-18. The Government had incurred a total loan of Rs 14,419.41 crore and repaid Rs 2,690.21 crore towards loan and Rs 4,988.34 crore towards interest.

The Minister informed that by September-end this year, the Government has incurred a total loan of Rs 5,701.07 crore and repaid Rs 935.15 crore towards loan and Rs 1789.08 crore towards interest.