Kohima, Nagaland, February 28 (HBTV): The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed the state’s budget that has a considerable deficit of approximately INR 905.78 crore. 

During the second day of the ongoing fourth session of the 14th NLA on Tuesday, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio presented INR 905.78 crore deficit budget, with a gross receipts at INR 23,978.05 crore. The gross expenditure was at INR 23,727.88 crore for the financial year 2024-25.  

The closing accumulated deficit was reduced from the estimated closing amount of INR 1374.17 crore in the Budget Estimates to INR 885.95 crore in the Revised Estimates.      

The reduction in deficit was mainly on account of reduction in the CSS backlog liability at INR 368.21 crore and civil deposit of INR 120.01 crore. 

The chief minister said also that the State Plan for the fiscal 2024-25 had been increased from INR 820 crore to INR 1,010 crore.  

In his budget speech, Rio also listed out some of the economic and developmental imperatives besides allocations for key departments and sectors. Under the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative, he said, a total of 688 loans have been approved. An outlay of INR 3,000 lakh has been allocated for the scheme during 2024-25. 

The agriculture and allied sector has been provided a total outlay of INR 4190.20 lakh for various core activities. The Agriculture department has been allocated INR 1100 lakh for community agri farm roads, promotion of indigenous crops and developmental activities.

The Land Resources sector has been provided INR 550 lakh for promotion of cash crops such as areca nut, coffee and rubber, and for setting up a Coffee Research and Adaptation Station during 2024-25. 

The Rural Development sector has been provided INR 440 lakh for construction and improvement of rural roads, construction of farmers markets and quarters, among others. The Land Revenue sector has been provided INR350 lakh for construction of Directorate office and for survey of various towns.  

The Power sector, Distribution and Revenue, has been provided INR 793 lakh for construction of distribution lines and sub-stations, and purchase of distribution transformers and related equipment. The Transmission and Generation sector has been provided INR 1315.59 lakh for construction of offices, duty rooms, transformers, towers, testing and commissioning of transmission lines and hydro electric projects, for survey and investigation reports etc. To provide stable power supply, a 132/33 kilovolt 12.5 Mega-volt Amperes sub-station has been constructed at Chiephobozou.   

Under PM-DevINE, the government of India has sanctioned one transmission project in Chümoukedima amounting to INR 13,237 lakh.

The Roads and Bridges sector has been provided INR 5,000 lakh for improvement of roads, construction and rehabilitation of bailey bridges, for Special Road Development Program (SRDP) and construction of a research lab centre at Dimapur.   

The Road Transport sector has been provided INR 628 lakh for construction of stations and sub-stations and acquisition of fleet.   

The Motor Vehicles sector has been provided INR 450 lakh for construction of offices, conference hall and training centre and purchase of smart card printers for districts.

The Health and Family Welfare sector has been provided INR 771 lakh for constructions in district hospitals, health centers, staff quarters, and hostels.       

Further, the Public Health Engineering sector has been provided INR 330 lakh for various activities like development of spring source, providing water supply to towns, construction of offices, boundary and retaining walls.   

The PWD Housing sector has been provided INR 1,628.29 lakh for construction of rest houses, office complex, office buildings, workshop, housing flats, ministers’ quarters, security barracks and retaining walls in various parts of the state, and a medical lodge at NEIGRIHMS Shillong.

The Urban Development sector has been provided INR 900 lakh for construction of shops at Super Market Dimapur, for Urban Infrastructure activities, preparation of plans for small urban centers and for master plan for the new city – Naga Ki at Chathe valley. The department has also taken over urban roads in all the 39 ULBs/Urban areas from the PWD (R&B) for which funds amounting to INR 2,000 lakh have been allocated during 2024-25.

The Border Affairs sector has been provided INR 300 lakh for border-related activities, the chief minister stated.