The State Government during the Monsoon Session placed its first demand for grants of this financial year seeking Rs 1,987.74 crore. The supplementary budget is going to be used to contribute to the centrally sponsored schemes and fill the money taken put from the State’s contingency fund.
After placing the first Supplementary Budget in the House on Wednesday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy termed it as the lowest of the funds sought through supplementary Budget during previous several years.
“The Government has placed demand for Rs 1,987.74 crore before the Assembly for its approval which is the lowest in last two-three years. We needed this fund to contribute Rs 988 crore to the Central scheme as our contribution and the rest is to go back into the contingency fund of the State,” said the Minister while talking to reporters outside.
Talking about financial health of the Government, Roy added that fiscal deficit was well within the Financial Regulatory and Budget Management (FRBM) framework which mandates to keep it below 3 per cent of the total budgetary allocation.
“We have sufficient resources with us. Funds are available for developmental schemes from the Centre as well as of our own. The Government has also been able to spend the Budget amount with good pace. Despite being first quarter of the fiscal and the monsoon season on, till now about 23 per cent of the budget has been reported to be utilised. We are confident of using the entire Budget on time,” said Roy.
Besides, he also placed annual report of the JPSC for the year 2015-16 before the House.