CM presents supplementary demands of Rs 1,431 crore in Assembly

Shimla, Feb 22 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today presented supplementary demands of Rs 1,431.31 crore in the Vidhan Sabha for 2005-06.

Out of this, a sum of Rs 1079.73 crore was under the non-plan expenditure, Rs 201.61 crore under the plan expenditure, while Rs 150.05 crore was for expenditure on the central-sponsored schemes.

Tabling the demands in the Assembly here, Mr Singh said a sum of Rs 476.10 crore had been provided for repayment of loans, Rs 105.18 crore for energy charges as payment to the state electricity board by the IPH department, Rs 59.28 crore for maintenance of irrigation and drinking water supply schemes in IPH department and Rs 40 crore for interest payment.

Besides this, he said substantial increase in the salaries of the state government employees due to the merger of 50 per cent DA with the basic pay have been provided in all the demands.

The Chief Minister said the state government has also proposed a sum of Rs 150.05 crore for the central-sponsored schemes, adding that the proposal was to fund new or on-going schemes for which funds have been received from the Centre.

''Though provision for providing additional funds for central-sponsored schemes is made, supplementary demands have to be made in due course as funds are received from the Centre,'' he told the Assembly.

Mr Singh said under the plan expenditure, additional provision has been provided for irrigation and flood control, grant-in-aid to universities, for funds under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and for construction of roads and bridges.

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