Manipur CM focus on power, connectivity

IMPHAL: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh has stated that his government would give special attention to power supply, availability of drinking water and road connectivity in the state.

"As was stated by me while seeking the vote-on-account, our efforts over the next five years would be to give special attention to these three core sectors," the CM, who also holds the finance portfolio, said while presenting the budget in the assembly on Monday.

"Within our limited resources, we will specially focus on improvement of power transmission and distribution network, upgrade of road network and augmentation of drinking water supply, among others, through new projects, schemes and activities from the ensuing fiscal itself," he added.

Necessary investments would be arranged and wherever necessary, structural reforms would be introduced, he said. He added that the fiscal deficit is estimated at (-) Rs 472.31 crore which is (-) 4.2 percent of GSDP .The total outstanding debt is projected at 47 per cent of GSDP during 2012-13, which is within the limit mandated by Manipur FRBM Rules, 2011.

Ibobi Singh informed the house that the Planning Commission has fixed the annual plan outlay at Rs 3500 crore for the 2012-13 fiscal.

These plan funds would be utilized for completing ongoing projects and taking up some new important developmental work, he said, adding that compared to 2010-11, plan expenditure registered a growth of 16 % and capital expenditure increased by 5% during 2011-12.

He added that the state government's vision for the 12th Five Year Plan is "faster, inclusive and sustainable growth." During the plan period, the government intends to keep up the development momentum going and meet the soaring aspirations of people on three sectors - power, water supply and road connectivity. On the social sector, the literacy rate has improved significantly from 70.5% in 2001 to 78.85% in 2011, he said.

Stating that health indicators are much better that all India average, the CM said Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and Crude Death Rate (CDR) are estimated at 14.9 and 4.2 respectively as against the all-India average of 22.1 and 7.2 . Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is per thousand as against the all India average of 47, he added.

A large number of development projects, beginning from economic service to social service sector have been implemented and some are under implementation. On state finances, the CM said about 90% of the revenue receipt of the state comes from central tax transfers and grant-in-aid, indicating that the state is solely dependent on receipts from the Centre. He said expenditure on the state police was estimated at 21 per cent of the total non-plan revenue expenditure of Rs 4062.35 crore during 2011-12 . He added that there has been improvement in security due to well-directed counter-insurgency measures.