NLA passes Rs.22,816.61 cr budget

Rs.365.33 CR DEFICIT FOR 2021-22; TO CLOSE AT Rs.2679.46 CR

Correspondent KOHIMA, FEB 19 (NPN) : Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) passed the Rs 22,816.61-crore budget for the fiscal 2021-2022 by voice vote on the concluding day of the seventh session of 13th Assembly here on Friday.

Leader of the House and chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the budget on Thursday with an estimated deficit of Rs 2,679.46 crore, gross receipts at Rs 22,451.28 crore and gross expenditure at Rs 22,816.16 crore.

After a day-long debate, the budget was passed after opposition legislators Moatoshi Jamir, Amenba Yaden and Yitachu raised cut motions on the Fisheries and Health & Family Welfare department, citing alleged malpractices.

The leader of the house, Neiphiu Rio and Health minister, S Pangnyu Phom, however, assured to take up the matter with the concerned departments, following which the cut motions were withdrawn.

The assembly also passed four other bills– the Nagaland Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill 2021, and three other appropriation bills.

In his closing remark, Rio asserted that the budget was “very well-balanced” that talked about welfare, innovations and youth activities and therefore asked opposition leader TR Zeliang not to brush it away by terming it as contract-oriented budget.

Admitting that deficit was a big concern, he however said the mounting deficit did not happen in recent times as deterioration in State’s finances began following change in the funding pattern for annual plan from 1989.

He said the position was aggravated by nomadic approach of 13th Finance Commission (FC), which largely ignored special status and requirements of special category State, pointing out that even though the 14th and 15th FCs were more sympathetic towards the State, the adverse effects could not be wiped away.

“This was the main reason why the State’s deficit kept increasing year after year,” he added.

He said the year 2020-2021 was estimated to close with a deficit of Rs 2,358.81 crore because of COVID-19 pandemic, due to which the estimated State’s share of Central taxes was reduced by Rs 1,341.99 crore even as the State’s revenue reduced by Rs 86.19 crore. Therefore, the total reduction in the expected receipt for the current fiscal was Rs 1,428.18 crore, he added.

This being the case, he said the “closing deficit of 2020-21 would have been as much as Rs 3,786. But we made it Rs 2,358.81.”

Referring to the deficit in power sector, the chief minister said this started 2010-11. While in 2014-15, the power purchase loss was Rs 129.29 crore, this increased to Rs 1,132.83 in 2015-16, Rs 182.26 crore in 2016-17 and the accumulated deficit now was Rs 1,685.73 crore, adding that this was the reason why the sector requires reformation.

He pointed out that the State government alone could not employ all people and hence the State required private sector. But the private players would be reluctant to invest unless there were proper land laws, uninterrupted power supply and a conducive atmosphere, he added.

He said as his government’s priority was good roads and, the contract terms and conditions made it incumbent upon the contractors to construct roads as per the specifications and maintain the roads three years, else their security would be forfeited and they would be blacklisted.

Rio hailed roads & bridges (R&B) department for doing a better job and observed that ride quality improved significantly, even as three bridges were completed, one of which was inaugurated, in the last one-and-a-half year.

He said departments that wanted to complete construction of buildings have been given emphasis as in the budget proposal as his priority was health, road and education sectors.

Stressing rationalisation of the large manpower with the State government, he said it was time to curtail government expenditure and give more importance to revenue generation so that resources were available for development.

On agri and allied sector, Rio said new initiatives have been proposed like Naga Integrated Settled Farming to raise productivity up to commercial level and make farming sustainable, as integrated farming would help increase production volume and would be commercially viable.

Stressing for upgrading their skills and machineries to make them more viable, he said he would assist the farmers by equipping them with machineries.

On the objection to having too many agri-link roads by opposition members, he explained that it was difficult to evacuate agricultural produce due to difficult terrain and that there was a huge demand for agri link roads.

He remarked that upgrading model piggery and fisheries was vital for the State’s economy because Nagas were non-vegetarian, adding that the effort was to reach food self-sufficiency.

On import of pigs from United Kingdom to Nagaland as mentioned in the budget speech and pointed out by opposition member Dr Chotisuh Sazo, the chief minister said the pigs were transported from the UK to Delhi. However, as the pigs were required to be quarantined between 30 days and five months and Government of India did not allow their transportation to Nagaland, he said the pigs were under the care of Punjab government. He exuded confidence that once situation normalised, the veterinary department would take care of the rest.

Further, he informed the House that as Green Park inaugurated in Dimapur was doing well, the government wanted to replicate this in all the districts. In this regard, he urged MLAs of the districts concerned to extend contributions, identify land and assist the government in purchasing of land, if the government did not posses any.

To be funded by Pollution Control Board, he said two parks have been selected for the current year, one each in Kohima and Dimapur, adding the same would be taken up in other districts in future.

On posting of doctors in remote areas, Rio assured to take corrective measures stating that justice would be done.

On Zeliang’s suggestion to write a letter to law & justice department’s deputy secretary to revoke the letter regarding SARFAESI Act, Rio pointed out that as per the Assembly decision, the matter was referred to select committee. Therefore, he assured that, if required, more discussions would be held. He however said there was no need to revoke the letter as Assembly resolution and decision would overrule everything.

He said there were 53 bridges under PMGSY, out of which 23 were in ENPO area, and assured to expedite them.

In response to opposition members’ charge, Rio clarified that the budget did not make mention of NH, CSS or NHIDCL as these were Central projects, though the State could discuss, supervise and them.

As the Naga political issue always took centre stage in NLA, he said this remains the top agenda of his government too, adding that the Assembly held deliberations and even adopted unanimous resolutions in this regard.

He insisted that inclusive agreement should encompass all Nagas so that the solution was long-lasting and the mistakes of history were not repeated, while appealing to the negotiating parties for an early, honourable and inclusive solution. He urged all stakeholders to constantly strive towards unity and oneness.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/nla-passes-rs-22-816-61-cr-budget/229077.html