Imphal, March 17 2009: Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi, who is also finance in-charge, today presented an interim budget for the 2009-10 as the three day fifth session of the ninth Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced Tuesday here with Manipur Governor addressing the House.

The plan outlay of the state for the 2009-10 has not yet been finalized as the final round of discussion with the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission could not be held prior to the announcement of election, Ibobi informed the house while presenting the budget estimates for the year 2009-10. While proposing the total expenditure for fiscal year 2009-10 at Rs 1733 crores under plan, Rs 2592.79 crores under non-plan and Rs 224.21 crores under Centrally sponsored schemes, Central schemes and North Eastern Council schemes, Singh said the provisions under plan are tentative and will be revised through supplementary demands when the outlay is finalized.

The detailed demands for grant for 2009-10 will be placed in the full budget session later, said the chief minister, stating that the provisions for CSS, CPS and NEC scheme are subject to change according to releases during the course of the year after the finalization of the Central Budget for non-plan, plan and CSS transfers.

The sector-wise allocations of the tentative outlays observed allocation of more funds to the general economic services, social services and irrigation and flood control with Rs 679.80 crores, Rs 383.68 crores and 267.20 crores respectively.

Only Rs 38.66 crores is allocated to agriculture and allied activities, Rs 84.84 crores to rural development, Rs 15 crores for special area programmes (including border area development programme, Rs 123 crores for energy sector, Rs 90.36 crores for industries and mineral, Rs 26.75 crores for transport, Rs 12.20 crores for science and technology and environment, Rs 10.19 crores for general services and Rs.1.30 crores for other sectors.

While presenting the budget estimates, Ibobi said that the state gathered momentum in the last seven to eight years after relative stagnation.

During the annual plan period 2002-07, the annual average growth rate of gross state domestic product (GSDP) at current process has shown a growth of 9.74 percent.

Stating that construction, trade, hostel and restaurants, banking and insurance and public administration are the growth drivers for the said period, he said 100 percent growth recorded from the construction sector.

"The state's economy, however exhibited signs of slowdown in 2006-07 when it grew by only 5.48 percent over the previous year," the chief minister said expecting 6.76 percent GSDP during 2007-08. The deteriorating global economic environment and the consequent 'knock-on' effect on the Indian economy have affected growth performance of the country.

This has far reaching implication for the state like Manipur where is fiscal well-being is closely linked to the economic and fiscal well-being of the central government, Ibobi said.

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