A few days ahead of the Annual Budget scheduled for Monday, the Government presented the 3rd Supplementary Budget amounting Rs2069.68 crore. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy on Thursday tabled the demands-for-grants, which would be discussed over two days.
Justifying the budget, when till December just 52 per cent of Rs37065 crore plan Budget presented for 2016-17 has been spent, Roy said that several departments were willing to surrender the money with them, which had been adjusted with other needy Departments through that.
“large portion of the 3rd Supplementary is coming from the Centre under new schemes and from the surrendered amounts. Some departments have proposed to surrender the amount budgeted to them which would have lapsed otherwise. Rs1433.71 crore out of total Rs2069.68 crore of the Budget would come through the surrendered amount,” said the Minister adding that another Rs520.10 crore was expected to be surrendered.
Rs1593.75 crore of the Budget would go for plan expenditure while Rs475.92 crore under non-plan head. Also the Government had withdrawn Rs 6.45 crore from the Contingency Fund which would be repaid out of the amount. The Center would provide Rs115.86 crore. The Minister said that no financial burden would come on the exchequer.
Biggest beneficiary of the demands-for-grants is Road Construction Department which would be getting Rs310 crore.
Opposition though questioned the logic behind the exercise. “The Government is preparing for another ‘March-loot’. There is no justification of soughing for more fund when expenditure is 52 per cent,” said JVM’s Pradeep Yadav.
Congress’ Sukhdeo Bhagat said that the Supplementary Budget can be brought only in special cases and emergency situation which was not at sight in the State as of now.
Meanwhile amid din over CNT-SPT amendments from the JMM, the Assembly passed the Thanks Giving Motion to the Governor’s address sans discussion. BJP’s Radha Krishna Kishore presented the motion which was seconded by Ram Kumar Pahan. House saw three adjournments since the JMM continued with its demand to recall the tenancy law amendment Bills, already passed by the House and pending for presidential assent.