CM Biren presents interim budget of 34,577 cr
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 24 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday presented to the House a vote on account (interim budget) with a tentative budget estimate of Rs 34,577 crore to meet the expenditure of the state government for the first four months of fiscal 2022 2023.Around Rs 11,525.91 crore of the tentative budget is expected to be utilised within the next four months.

Of the total tentative budget presented in the House, Rs 25,812 crore is voted while Rs 8,765 crore is charged expenditure.

While presenting the vote on account in the House, CM Biren conceded that as the new government was sworn in only on March 21 there was limited time to prepare the budget' .

As such, the vote on account of the tentative budget estimate for fiscal 2022-23 was presented, so as to meet the expenditure for the first quarter.

He then said that efforts are being made up to present a complete budget at the shortest time possible.

He continued that the previous fiscal years were heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as funds concerning health care, salaries, pension, development works, etc., were used in battling the pandemic.

Taking the current rate, the GSDP for 2021-22 is estimated to be Rs 37,760 crore.

For fiscal 2022 23, the GSDP is estimated to reach up to the level of Rs 42,301 crore.

"The economy of the state is highly dependent on the central government.

However, efforts would be made to mobilise additional resources of the state.

Details of the same would be up for discussion through the full budget, he stated.

Regarding the upcoming activities of the new government, Biren said that it has been decided to increase the support provided to entrepreneurs and start-ups so as to help in improving the state's economy and generation of more jobs.

For this, a specific environment would be created, he assured.

The CM said: 'Covid-19 has taught us the importance of having a strong public health care system.

Thus, steps are being taken up to commence the academic session of Churachandpur Medical College from this year onwards.

The government is also planning to allocate more funds in the health care sector.

"In addition, the government will be establishing a skill development institution in the state, after which the Manipur Skill Development University would be set up.

The government would also be focussing on the tourism sector," he said.

On road and transport, Biren informed that efforts are being made to take up additional projects with the support of the central government, apart from connecting a railway line up to Imphal by 2023.On top of this, road sector projects including Imphal Ring Road, Imphal Elevated Highway, Imphal-Tamenglong-Haflong road and upgrading Imphal Mao National Highway to 4-lanes will be taken up, he assured.

Biren then said: "Helicopter services will soon be introduced in other parts of the state.

One of the key projects to beautify Imphal City is laying of concrete roads and pavements, which will be taken up as externally aided projects".

Meanwhile, the "Manipur Water Supply Project" which is being constructed under the funding of New Development Bank, will be completed in the ongoing year, and it would be able to provide potable water to every household.

The government will continue the "School Fagathansi Mission", in addition to extending support to the sports sector and mobilising the land resources of the state to increase the revenue of the state, he conveyed.

Furthermore, the government had already introduced/launched various social welfare schemes in the last term and will continue to introduce more welfare schemes in the ongoing term as well.

Efforts will be made to increase the Rs 2 lakh coverage limit of CMHT to Rs 5 lakh and the old age pension of Rs 200 a month for senior citizens to Rs 1000 a month, the CM assured.

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