Government will front-load infra spend to revive economy: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Chennai: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday shrugged off questions on the GDP growth declining to 5 per cent in Q1, saying a dip in growth is part of the process and the government will front-load infra spending as much possible to revive demand and consumption in the economy.

Sitharaman said a dip in the GDP is part of the growth cycle and the government is conscious that it has to respond.

"It's not that government is not responding with measures to boost GDP. A dip in GDP is part of growth. Our full focus is now on how GDP can rise in the next quarter," she said while addressing media on the actions and decisions of her ministry in 100 days of Modi 2.0.

"We will try to front-load infra spending as much as possible," she added, adding: "We are taking steps to increase consumer confidence in market."

The government recently set up a task force, headed by the Economic Affairs Secretary, to draw up a 'National Infrastructure Pipeline' of Rs 100 lakh crore. In the July Budget, the government had announced Rs 100 lakh crore investment in infra sector for the next 5 years.

According to her, the task force is in the process of identifying the infrastructure projects to be funded, as well as expedited, and the Central government will start funding infrastructure projects once it submits its report.

Sitharaman also said the government is working on a few steps for the auto industry. "Government is conscious on the need to respond to the slowdown in the auto sector," she said.

The auto industry is a big job creating industry and reported a 23 per cent drop in sales, lowest since 1997-98 is in the grip of a severe slowdown has evoked a lot of concern.

Responding to a query over GST rate cut for auto industry, Sitharaman said it is a matter to be decided by the GST council. She said the government is conscious on the need to respond to check the auto slowdown.

"Decisions on rate cuts are only privy to GST Council," she added. The minister also expressed worry over the low GST revenue collections.

The gross GST collection in August 2019 stood at Rs 98,202 crore, up 4.51 per cent from Rs 93,960 crore in the same month last year. The GST collection, although higher on year-on-year basis, is still lower than government's expectations of Rs 1 trillion.

"GST revenue collections need attention and government needs to widen the GST revenue collections need attention and government needs to widen the basket," she said.

Sitharaman also said that the government will respond to home buyers' problems soon, adding that there was a need to work with other ministries for resolution of their problems.

Home buyers and builders both are suffering due to slowdown as buyers are suffering due to unfinished projects because of NBFC crisis which stopped liquidity to the builders while the builders are too hit by a large inventory as consumption has touched a very low patch.

"Government's response on home buyers will be sooner than later," she said.

On the spate of PSU bank mergers announced by her government that converted 10 PSU banks into four, Sitharaman said that the effective dates of bank mergers to be decided by the individual bank boards.