IT New
Imphal, Dec 19
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh who is also the leader of the House today admitted that the state government is facing financial constraint but he denies of report about collapse in the Finance Department.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by two Congress MLAs – Khumukcham Joykishan and K. Meghachandra, in connection of a news report published in this newspaper under the heading State Finance Dept. Collapses; government may not be able to pay salary for contract, muster roll and contract employees, on the 2nd day of the 9th session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the government is managing for clearance of salaries for government employees before Christmas.
The Chief Minister did not say ‘Regular government employees’ and that naturally means all government employee , no matter whether they are regular, contract, muster roll or engaged.
MLA Joykishan, drawing the attention of the Finance Minister, while moving the calling attention motion said that a proof of collapse in the Finance Department is that he had seen no work programme being released at any of the government department for the year 2019-20. He even said that the MLAs are getting only half the total amount of the Local Area development which they could have taken up some development works in their respective constituencies. Joykishan further said that even some MLAs from the ruling and Ministers had openly stated developmental work could not be taken up due to non release of fund.
MLA K Meghachandra who jointly moved the calling attention motion said that the recent ban by the Reserve Bank of India is a clear indication that the state is in financial crisis. He questioned on how the state government will be able to pay the 7th Revise pay scale when the present pay scale to the government employee has been downgraded.
“As there are enough evidences to proof financial collapses, how can the people trust this government?”, MLA Meghachandra drew the attention of the Chief Minister while moving the calling attention motion.
The Chief Minister, who is also the leader of the house and in-charge of Finance department in his reply said that the government is taking up work programme in all respective department, while accepting that the state is facing financial constraints.
“We have prepared a Rs. 1405 crore deficit budget with the approval of all the members of this house, that means there will certainly be some sort of financial constraint to the state”, Chief Minister said.
He added that state have limited revenue resource to improve the financial position of the state and for that the government is working out to generate more revenue by increasing the Excise duty and License, Renewal of the liquor fees that are permissible to some exceptional category like Armed forces; increase in the VAT for petroleum and diesel by 10%.
The Chief Minister further said that the state will introduce Lottery soon and will introduce online system of tax payment to check and prevent misuse of State revenue.
The Chief Minister further said that due to obstruction and opposition from civil society the Local Liquor Legislation Bill is still pending and because of this prohibitions the state government lose around Rs. 600 crore to Rs. 700 crore annually. He also said that even legalization of Marijuana purely for use of medicinal value has been even opposed by some people.
Regarding the non release of CDA the Chief Minister said that it has been delayed due to the election code of conduct but will be release soon probably by January.
