SDF govt presented 20th budget in Sikkim

Gangtok: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling tabled a Rs 6,666.71 crore budget in the Assembly, the 20th one of the SDF government led by him. With a deficit of only Rs 4 lakh, the budget projected gross revenue of Rs 6,113.31 crore and expenditure of Rs 6,666.71 crore for 2014-15.[caption id=“attachment_1586573” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Presenting the budget on Monday, Chamling who also holds finance portfolio, said the difference would be met through borrowings and funding through the public accounts. The budget comprises Rs 3,497.03 crore under plan and Rs 3,169.68 crore under Non-Plan account, he said adding the state Annual Plan has been tentatively fixed at Rs 2,210 crore subject to revision after finalisation. The chief minister said completion of the projects under implementation, including the hydel power projects, would be his top priority to avoid cost over-runs. No new projects will be taken up till the completion of old projects, he told the assembly. On the financial challenges facing the state, he said the 12th Finance Commission “grossly under-estimated” the committed liabilities of the state due to which it’s resources have been affected. Against the projection made to the 12th Finance Commission of Rs 9,131.45 crore, the state was granted only Rs 4,525.80 crore, he said. Chamling dedicated this budget to the youth of Sikkim saying, “Over the past many years, our focus has been on channelising youth potential towards entrepreneurial ventures. Government programmes are youth oriented and we will continue to pursue this policy.” Discussion on the budget would begin on 24 June. Meanwhile, Chamling proposed a provision of 12 percent job reservation to candidates belongings to BPL category for direct recruitment in the state government and PSUs. The state government also proposed to install CCTV cameras in all the vital installations including the state secretariat building. PTI