Meghalaya’s financial position stable: CM Conrad K Sangma

SHILLONG, AUG 2: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the financial position of the state is stable but it is only the implementation of central schemes that could not be done in a regular manner as the union budget is yet to be passed by the Centre.

“Because of the budget not being passed by the Centre, the central schemes have not started coming in the way they normally comes in every financial year and that is the only difference in term of the financial situation otherwise there is no issue as such and the state is quite stable financially,” Sangma said.

Sangma said the way the implementation of central schemes that normally takes place when the national funds come could not be done in a regular manner as the budget is yet to be cleared.

He was reacting to a query relating to the recent decision of the finance department to withdraw the delegation of financial powers to various deparment heads as temporary austerity measure, at a sidelines of a function held here.

The chief minister however expressed hope that the union budget will be passed in the next few weeks and assured that once it is clear all those areas of concern relating to the central schemes will be addressed.

Asked, Sangma said while 15 to 18 per cent of the revenue has been the from the state’s own resources, up to 80-85 percent of the state’s financial resources however comes from the Centre adding “This has been the history of Meghalaya from the day it was formed.”

“Therefore when central government does not release its schemes because of budgetary procedure it does come in the way of implementation of the central schemes but other than that there is no issue as such and the financial stability is absolutely there in the state,” he reiterated.

Stating that there are always situations like these, the chief minister however said, “These are situations that have happened in the past and that there is nothing to be worried about or to have any kind of serious concern.”

With regards to the pending bills of contractors, Sangma said there are schemes from the past five to seven years where bills are pending adding obviously it is not possible for the government in one year to clear them right now as these are also linked to fund flow from the Centre.

By Our Reporter