CM presents Supplementary Demand for Grants

Shimla, Mar 4 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today presented Supplementary Demand for Grants for the year 2007-2008 in the House aggregating to Rs 1208.95 crore.

The Supplementary Demand for Grants included Rs 233.19 crore under Plan Schemes, Rs 236.98 crore under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Rs 738.78 crores under Non-Plan, Mr Dhumal said.

The Chief Minister said the major expenditure proposed under Plan Schemes was mainly for infrastructure and development schemes.

He said Rs 34.65 crore was demanded for construction and completion of ongoing capital works of education department, Rs 66.10 crore for buildings and roads, Rs 40 crore for providing equity in hydro power projects, Rs 27.65 crore for capital works in tribal areas, Rs 19.03 crore for capital works under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Rs 2.39 crore for Swaran Jyanti Gramin Yojana of Rural Development Department.

He said under the Centrally sponsored schemes, supplementary provision of Rs 236.98 crore was proposed. "Most of it is for funding the ongoing or new development schemes, for which funds have been received during the year from the Centre." A sum of Rs 166.90 crores had been provided for Centrally sponsored drinking water supply schemes, Rs 16.17 crores for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs 11.48 crores for modernisation of Police force, Rs 2.80 crores for assistance to Panchayats and Rs 3.42 crores for soil and water conservation, he said.

Mr Dhumal said under the Non-Plan expenditure, a sum of Rs 170 crores had been demanded to pay the arrears of salary to regularised daily wagers of PWD and IPH departments.

He said Rs 168 crores was being provisioned to meet the increased pension liabilities. A sum of Rs 70 crores had been demanded towards release of subsidy to the food and supplies department under the Public Distribution System and Rs 39.63 crores to meet the expenditure on account of salary and wage liabilities of various departments, he added.

UNI XC PS BK1915