House okays demands for Rs 1614 crore
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 25 2016: After due deliberations, the Manipur Legislative Assembly today passed seven demands for grants amounting to Rs 1614,61,99,000.This included Rs 1144,73,45,000 for Finance, Rs 5,53,80,000 for Information and Publicity, Rs 17,16,63,000 for State Excise, Rs 5,14,21,000 for Sales Tax, Other Taxes/Duties on Commodities and Services, Rs 136,13,20,000 for Minor Irrigation, 282,69,21,000 for Social Welfare and Rs 22,21,49,000 for Relief and Disaster Management.

Tabling the demands, Chief Minister O Ibobi who also holds the Finance portfolio highlighted the need to utilize the State's resources most judiciously as Manipur no longer enjoys special category status.

Monetary assistance amounting to Rs 2200 which was given by the 13th Finance Commission in the forms of SPA, SCA and NCA has been scrapped.

At present, the Central Government's assistance has been limited to central tax transfer and non-plan revenue.

There was an increment of Rs 1127 crore when the 12th Finance Commission was succeeded by th 13th Finance Commission.

But when the 14th Finance Commission replaced the 13th Finance Commission, there was an increment of just Rs 64 crore.

The State Government may face difficulties to disburse monthly salaries and pensions to employees/pensioners in time.

Ibobi stated that he is worried about arrival of April as the DA should be hiked and released completely.

Moreover, the State must produce at least Rs 1000 crore in a year as its matching share for central sponsored schemes.

Nonetheless, the State Government has been working to optimize mobilization such as sales tax, excise duties, power tariff etc.

The State Government has been working to collect around Rs 300 crore annually as power bills by ensuring round the clock power supply.

A present, the Government has been spending Rs 25 crore per month in purchasing power, Ibobi informed the House.

Stating that Information and Public Relations was upgraded to the status of a major department last year, Ibobi claimed that the Manipur Police Housing Corporation has been instructed to complete the Directorate's office being constructed at Keishampat as soon as possible.

He went on to assure that maximum efforts would be invested to complete the construction work by June.

The Sekmai Dam swept away by flood waters was an ongoing project.

As such, the concerned contractors must re-build the dam or repair it.

Efforts are on to complete the dam construction work by June.

Responding to a policy cut motion raised by MLA Th Shyamkumar regarding a demand for the State Excise, the Chief Minister informed the House that the State Government has not yet adopted any decision on exporting local liquor by attaching a tag 'Not for sale in Manipur'.

The State Cabinet has deliberated on the matter and it was estimated that the State can a revenue of Rs 300 to 500 crore annually from exporting local liquor.

Nonetheless, the Government has not yet taken any decision on lifting prohibition on liquor, Ibobi continued.

While discussing the demand for Social Welfare, Minister AK Mirabai stated that CWCs and Juvenile Justice Boards have been set up in every district of the State.

There are 21 child care institutions in the State and one is run by the State Government.

There are seven specialised adoption agencies and five observation homes.

MLAs Dr Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha, Th Shyamkumar, K Shyam and Kh Joykishan raised different policy cut and token cut disapproval motions in the process of discussing the demands.

Later, the House passed all the seven demands for grants tabled by the Chief Minister.

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