5th Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly
Full budget of Rs 9426 crores presented
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 10 2013:
Keeping an eye on the State's limited resources and economic challenges, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who is also in-charge of the Finance Department, has presented the full annual budget for the year 2013-14 on the first day of 5th Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.
The State's annual budget amounts to Rs.9426.14 crores, out of which Rs.8808.7 crores comes under voted expenditure while the remaining Rs.617.68 crores under charged expenditure.
Presenting the budget in the House, Chief Minister Ibobi said that the State government would follow the process of fiscal tightening as done in previous financial years to counter the fiscal imbalances.
The State would also press the 14th Finance Commission to augment the deficits, especially in non-plan resources to bring about a long-term solution to the economic woes of the State.
Ibobi further mentioned that the Planning Commission has fixed the State's annual plan outlay for the year 2013-14 at Rs.3650 crores.
The allocated fund would be utilized in completing the ongoing projects and taking up new projects in the State.
He said that the State has been making efforts in recent years to improve tax and non-tax collections.
The total estimates of state's own tax and non-tax receipts assumed in the Budget Estimates are Rs.491.87 crores and Rs.429.77 crores respectively.
The collection from two largest sources of state revenues namely VAT and Power is estimated at Rs.385.88 crores and Rs.171.69 crores respectively.
The State government has recently taken a number of measures aimed at minimizing transmission and distribution losses such as introduction of prepaid meter system, computerized billing system, and renewed drive against unauthorized consumers and tax defaulters.
This would help increasing collection from Power sector gradually, Ibobi noted.
Chief Minister also proposed a total of Rs.9397.78 crores out of the Consolidated Fund of the State.
There is an increase of 16.86 percent over the Revised Estimates (RE) of 2012-13 which is Rs.8041.85 crores, mainly because of higher outlays under the state plan and other schemes where assistance is received for earmarked purposes.
Out of the total expenditure, Rs.4908.83 crores has been proposed under Non-Plan, Rs.3667.41 crores under State Plan and Rs.822.54 crores under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Plan Schemes.
Ibobi further maintained that the aggregate plan outlay for 2013-14 as agreed with the Planning Commission is Rs.3650 crores.
The plan outlay would be financed from many sources.
The State would receive Normal Central Assistance of Rs.907.78 crores for this purpose.
An additional Special Plan Assistance of Rs.907.78 crores would be available for taking up important and priority projects in the State.
The enhanced plan outlay would provide an opportunity to give a strong impetus to the growth momentum and also entails obligations for the State.
The State would have to raise more resources and exercise maximum restraint in order to restrict fresh liabilities on the non-plan account.
In terms of sectoral allocation, highest emphasis has been accorded to social services with an allocation of Rs.978.14 crores, which is 26.80 percent of the total allocation, followed by irrigation and flood control sector with Rs.948.70 crores and general economic services with Rs.685.63 crores.
Of the Rs.800 crores under special central assistance, Rs.485 crores is provided to meet the backlog and current state matching share of CSS/ACAs and flagship programmes, the Chief Minister explained.
He mentioned that out of the approved outlay of Rs.3650 crores, Rs.450 crores is devoted to taking up important and priority projects under Special Plan Assistance which will help in addressing critical gaps in vital infrastructures.
Out of Rs.450 crores under SPA, Rs.102.30 crores is for upgradation of various roads and bridges in both hills and valley districts, and a sum of Rs.60 crores is for infrastructural development of JNIMS, Rs.15 crores for completion of the balance of work for conservation and management of Loktak Lake and associated wetlands and Rs 40 crores for flood control and anti-erosion schemes.
Ibobi further stated that Rs.30 crores each has been earmarked under SPA for phase-I and phase-II of Tribal Areas Inclusive Infrastructure Growth Projects that would cover 27 development blocks in hill areas.
This project would include construction of integrated complexes for SDO cum BDO offices and residential accommodation for bank branches.
Rs.25 crores has also been allocated from the SPA funds for construction of residential quarters for the Primary teachers in ADC areas.
Another Rs.20 crores has been allocated for Information Technology Special Economic Zone at Mantripukhri.
The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.832 crores and it would be implemented in two phases through a Public-Private Partnership model.
The construction of six children homes at the cost of Rs.10.80 crores has been proposed with a view to check child trafficking in the State, Chief Minister noted.
Rs.10 crores has been allocated for augmenting security infrastructures in hill areas.
The outlay for agriculture and allied sector has been increased to Rs.243.76 crores with a growth rate of 21.16 percent.
Moreover, Rs.139.23 crores has been earmarked for education, sports, art and culture.
Rs.310.61 crores has been sanctioned for health and water supply while Rs.338.29 crores has also been earmarked for urban development, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi stated in the House.
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