Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 07, 2010:
Over and above the projection of Rs 1539.09 crores in the 13th Finance Commission for various purposes including payment of arrears to the Government employees, the total amount that the Government of Manipur has recommended to the Commission for sanctioning upto 2015 is said to be Rs 13567.5 crores.
According to a reliable source, among the various recommendations that the State Government has submitted to the Commission headed by Prof Kelkar as chairman, the amount for extension of 6th Central Pay benefit to the Government employees has been projected apart from earmarking adequate fund for various purposes including payment of arrears.
In the recommendations, the amount for arrears has been earmarked under the heading of 'committed liabilities' and on approval the amount would be released with effect from 2012-13 onwards, the source disclosed, adding that a sum of Rs 1671.44 crores has also been earmarked for payment of pension.
The source further disclosed that the total amount that the Government of Manipur has projected under 'Committed Liabilities' is around Rs 2000 crores and the total amount recommended to the Commission is Rs 1539.09 crores.
On approval, of the recommended amount under 'Committed Liabilities', Rs 488.21 crores would be released during the fiscal year 2012-13, Rs 512.62 crores during 2013-14 and Rs 538.25 crores during 2014-15.For payment of salary to its employees alone, the Government has recommended Rs 6671.89 crores to the Commission.
This is in addition to the projection of Rs 2002.53 crores under interest payment, Rs 889.03 crores under social services, Rs 769.97 crores under economic services and Rs 648.05 under local bodies.
The projected revenue taxes as well as non-tax revenue of the State in the next five years has also been mentioned respectively as Rs 1460.48 crores and Rs 828.27 crores.
For development of sports infrastructures in tune with International standard, the State Government has recommended to the 13th Finance Commission for providing Rs 100 crores as grant-in-aid.
For the renovation of Raj Bhavan which was constructed in 1898, Rs 10 crores has been recommended to the Commission and Rs 8 crores for the development of Kangla Fort.
In connection with development of the required infrastructures after reconstitution of the Autonomous District Councils in the hill districts for which the State Government is currently making efforts to hold election, a sum of Rs 51 crores has been recommended apart from another 84 crores for development of infrastructures to upgrade Manipur Police Training School into a college.
It may be may noted here that though the State Government has announced that the benefit of 6th Central Pay would be extended with effect from next month, it has maintained it would not be able to pay the arrears.