The Union government has made startling disclosures in the latest compilation of assets that it owns.
According to the Asset Register, disclosed in the Union Budget, the photocopiers, computers and other office equipment that the Government of India (GOI) owns are more valuable than its roads, bridges and irrigation and power projects. The value of the office equipment is, in fact, only marginally lower than the office and residential buildings the Centre owns. In fact, the GOI’s vehicles are more valuable than its roads.
As on March 31, 2014, the GOI owns office equipment worth Rs. 40,731 crore, according to the Register. The roads it owns are valued at Rs. 10,256 crore, bridges Rs. 11,717 crore, irrigation projects Rs. 1,416 crore and power projects Rs. 368 crore. The Register has valued the stock of the Centre’s vehicles — depreciating value assets — at Rs. 43,554 crore.
The total value of the Centre’s assets at the end of 2013-14, the last year for which the data are available, was Rs. 10,31,139 crore. Of this, physical assets were worth Rs. 4,06,129 crore and financial assets, mainly its shareholdings in public sector companies — both unlisted and those listed on the bourses — were worth Rs. 6,25,010 crore.
