15.98 cr for repairing damaged buildings
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 03:
Union Finance Minister Jaswant Sinha will table the Full Budget of the State amounting to Rs 2434.74 crores for 2001-2002 before Parliament tomorrow.
The revised estimate for 2000-2001 and budget estimate for 2001-2002 were tabled before the State Assembly earlier in March this year when Radhabinod Koijam was the Chief Minister holding the Finance portfolio.
Special Secretary Finance RK Nimai told The Sangai Express today that the total amount of the budget is Rs 2434.74 crores.
Out of this Parliament will pass Rs 1419.75 crores while Rs 1014.99 crores are "charge" funds which do not need the approval of the Parliament.
The vote on accounts for four months have been passed in the floor of the State Assembly during the tenure of Radhabinod Ministry.
Above this, Parliament had also passed another vote on accounts for three months.
Nimai said that the State's overdraft amount till November 28 was Rs 59.47 crores.
The employees� salaries could not be paid until the overdraft is cleared and the RBI lifts its ban.
He also pointed out that the RBI ban is not much related with the Full Budget to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.
He said that the deduction of TA and HRA of the employees can save upto Rs 40 crores.
The Government has not taken up any other measure except that of downsizing the employees as part of the austerity drive.
The benefits of the downsizing will be felt after 4-5 years, he added.
On revenue collection, he said that the target of the Government for the current year is Rs 106 crores.
However, the amount collected will be known by March next year, he said expressing doubt that Government will meet the target because of the ceasefire episode and the cease work strike of the employees.
Meanwhile Additional Chief Secretary S Saichuana has okayed the sanction of Rs 15,98, 95,075 to rehabilitate and restore the Assembly Secretariat, Speaker's bungalow and Chief Minister's Secretariat which were burnt down during the anti-cease fire June 18 uprising.
Of the total amount a sum of Rs 99,47,300 has been earmarked for rehabilitating the State Assembly while Rs 34,57,200 is for restoring the Chief Minister's Secretariat, guest house and security frisking room.
A sum of Rs 25,85,075 is marked for repairing the Speaker's bungalow.
Restoration work is to be completed by February next year.
The Assembly building was constructed in 1953 while the other Government structures came up sometime in 1970, according to sources.
The task of restoring and rehabilitating the Chief Minister Secretariat, guest house and security frisking room has been entrusted to the Executive Engineer, building division I of PWD.
A task force of the PWD had in September this year submitted an estimated report of Rs 7 crores for repairing the Assembly secretariat with a capacity to seat one hundred members and will have a parking facility.
The report also envisages a visitor's gallery.
Earlier an expert team had submitted a report to the effect that existing Assembly structure is unfit for use.
This suggestion was however rejected due to the financial crisis.
Instead the Govt opted for restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged buildings rather than go in for new construction.
Seven contractors have been short listed by the Government to carry out the restoration works of the damaged buildings.