Mizoram annual budget likely in October

Aizawl, Sep 4: The regular annual budget of Mizoram for the current fiscal is likely to be presented when the next state Assembly session begins on October 6.

State Finance Minister Lalsawta could not present the state budget during the session in March and again in July as there was no clarity in the sharing pattern of the funds to be received under the centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), non-lapsable central pool of resources (NLCPR) and the North Eastern Council (NEC), finance department officers said.

Vote-on-account was presented on both occasions. The CSS, NLCPR and NEC fund allocations, earlier allotted over and above the state annual plan outlay, were included in the plan outlay since a few years back.

The absence of clarity in the sharing pattern of CSS, NLCPR and NEC had resulted in confusion and Lalsawta's inability to present the regular state budget till date, the officials said.

Mizoram used to enjoy the status of special category state under which fund sharing between the centre and the state was on 90:10 basis.

But this was discontinued by the new NDA government at the centre following recommendations of the fourteenth Finance Commission.

Governor Lt General (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma today summoned the seventh session of the seventh state assembly from October six, assembly secretariat sources said.

Additional Secretary of the state assembly S R Zokhuma said that the detail programme of the coming session would be chalked out by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) chaired by Assembly Speaker Hiphei.

PTI