September 18, 2024
September 18, 2024
By Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Mar 15: The State Assembly on Wednesday passed the Budget for 2017-18 by voice votes after two-day marathon discussions by members from both ruling and opposition parties.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the first Budget of the BJP government in the house on March 10 last.
Participating in the budget discussion, Chief Minister Pema Khandu reiterated his government commitment to treat all constituencies equally rising above political consideration while giving additional thrust on agri-horti sectors.
He informed that an event on organic mission would be conducted in the state on April next which would be attended by union minister.
Lauding the suggestions of the members, Khandu assured to incorporate in the budget which implementation would begin from April next.
“The budget reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a new India,” Khandu said adding, the state government would create phase-wise infrastructure in the state to reduce the gap.
Urging the members to work with ‘Team Arunachal’ spirit to root out corruption, Khandu said that prioritization of IT sector would reduce corruption in the government level through paper less administration.
Referring to the innovative Chief Minister Dashboard proposal in the budget, Khandu said that the dash board would be ready soon where all the schemes including flagship programmes would be uploaded for effective monitoring to achieve the goal of sab ka saath sab ka vikas.
Stating that the state had vast land but no progress could be achieved, the chief minister informed that law would be enacted soon for land reforms to woo private investment.
Informing that six Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) have been upgraded in the state, the chief minister said that Itanagar Airport would be developing soon while the state would have its own aircrafts.
Khandu called for developing work culture right from babus to chief secretary to achieve developmental agendas of the government, and assured to focus on revenue generation and employment generation through skill and entrepreneurial development.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein participating in the discussion informed that the state government has prepared a roadmap for development with transparency and accountability encompassing all strata of the society and the Budget 2017-18 is a reflection of it.
Responding to queries and suggestions by the members during discussion on Budget, Mein informed that the budget was the outcome of hard work of the finance department team.
Recalling the chronological political evolution of the state legislative assembly, the deputy chief minister said that he is nostalgic as this would be the last session in the assembly with the new assembly building had been completed.
Mein assured the members that he would personally monitor execution of all schemes incorporated in the Budget along with the proposed monitoring team of the finance department.
Referring to the acute fund crisis, he said that the present government was committed to overcome the situation through prudent fiscal reforms. He also lauded former chief minister Nabam Tuki and senior BJP member Wanglin Lowangdong’s suggestion for resource mobilization by exploring coal and petroleum resources abundant in the state.
“The budget is an attempt to address the core economic sectors of the stte through financial reforms.
Responding to a short duration discussion initiated by PPA member Tapang Taloh on release of letters of credit (LoCs) and payments against several projects during 2015-16 with executing works, the deputy chief minister informed that the finance department issued LoC after following the standard practice in consultation with the head of departments and after they verified the status of the projects.
“This was done during the previous regime which will not be repeated by the present government,” he added.
Speaker T Norbu Thongdok later adjourned the house sine die.
