The state annual budget 2015-16 presented by the Chief Minister OkramIbobi Singh on the first day of the monsoon session was passed today after a brief discussion. Opposition MLAs – Dr. I Ibohalbi, L. Ibomcha, Th. Shyamkumar and Samuel Raisom while joining the discussion on the state budget presented by the Chief Minister said that the budget show that the economy of the state is not in a good condition and does not reflect anything for solving of the unemployment problem of the state.
Dr. I Ibohalbi termed the budget as a deficit budget and expressed displeasure to find that the state still depend its economy to the mercy of the central government. While suggesting that the state government should make an attempt to earn revenue by outsourcing various developmental projects like road infrastructures in PPP models to Multinational company, Dr, I Ibohalbi said that the state government still lack long term capital investment plan.
MLA L. Ibomcha while joining the discussion said that the reflection of annual budget 2014-15 showed that it was prepared in a hap hazardous manner.
“This budget is going to suffer a lot to many government departments”, Ibomcha said.
Giving an example, Ibomcha said that how could the allotment for water pipeline in Imphal area be only rupees 10 crore when the minimum requirement is rupees hundred crores. Ibomcha also put up other matters pointing lack of vision and criticised the budget to have been prepared at table without studying the ground reality.
NPF MLA Samuel Raisom while sharing his views wonders on how the ADCs will be able to function with the meagre fund allocated to them. Fund allocated for the ADC as reflected in the budget is only 113 crore. He said when the ADC was functioning from Imphal due to various reasons the ADCs faced various problems and as the ADCs are going to start functioning from their respective district headquarters the fund will not be able to meet the demand.
MLA K Shyam and MLA Shyamkumar also term the budget as not favourable budget for the state of Manipur.
While, clarifying to the opposition MLAs, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that the budget was prepared with full understanding of the ground reality and after thorough discussion of the fund availability after many of the financial assistant has been cancelled due to the lifting of the special category status. He said many state including ours is likely to face serious financial crisis after the NDA government has lifted the special category status. Certain North East state which were once under this special category are now facing problem in payment of salary to the government employees. As for the state of Manipur we still do not face such problem due to the financial discipline maintain by the government.
