Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh fourteenth session of the 12th Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly begins today with the address of Governor Acharya Devvrat.
The Governor, in his over one-hour long address, said the government had accorded top priority to the education sector. He said the Government is working sincerely for the progress, prosperity and well-being of the people of the State, and has ensured balanced development of all areas.
Devvrat stated that the Government is committed to all round development of the State and has ensured that the fruits of development reach every citizen in every part of the State. It has ensured that the principle of “Sabka Kalyan-Samagar Vikas” is followed in its truest and fullest sense in all its endeavours.
The Chief Minister presented the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2016-2017.
These Supplementary Demands for Grants aggregate to Rs. 3936 crore 55 lakh. Out of this, Rs. 2304 Crore 83 lakh is under Non- Plan Schemes, Rs 502 crore 78 lakh under the Plan and Rs. 1128 Crore 94 lakh under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Under the Non-Plan Expenditure; mainly, a sum of Rs. 1660 Crore 39 lakh for repayment of loans and ways & means advance, Rs. 160 Crore 91 lakh for Police and its allied organization, Rs. 149 Crore 03 lakh for energy charges of various Water Supply schemes, Rs. 108 Crore 74 lakh for payment to SJVNL on account of generation tariff and loan to HPPCL, Rs. 46 Crore 27 lakh for payment of compensation for construction of roads, Rs. 39 Crore 40 lakh for Language Art & Culture and Public Relations and Rs. 13 Crore 60 lakh has been kept for Administration of Justice. Major expenditure proposed under the Plan Schemes are: Rs. 108 Crore 60 lakh for Construction & maintenance of various roads, buildings & bridges, Rs. 69 Crore 16 lakh for Bhanupalli- Bilaspur-Beri rail line and Vikas me Jan Sahyog, Rs 44 Crore 14 lakh for various works under NABARD & NRDWP, Rs. 34 Crore 52 lakh for construction of buildings of new Medical Colleges and new OPD block in IGMC, Rs. 30 Crore 47 lakh for Smart City Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission and Rs. 11 Crore 55 lakh under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan for execution of developmental works in various departments. Under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, most of it is for funding ongoing or new schemes for which money has been received during the year from the Government of India. Prominent among these are `446 Crore 96 lakh for Compensation to Renuka Dam Oustees, Rs. 187 Crore 33 lakh for Smart City Mission, Rs. 172 Crore 98 lakh for Construction of building of medical Colleges, Rs. 93 Crore 46 lakh for Urban infrastructure Development Scheme, Rs. 81 Crore 64 lakh for Disaster Management, Rs. 45 Crore for Construction of roads under Central road fund, Rs. 8 Crore 66 lakh under ICDS, ICPS and SABLA, ` 8 Crore 49 lakh for Housing for All and Rs. 8 Crore 01 lakh for upgradation of Judiciary infrastructure.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is also holding finance portfolio, will present the 2017-18 Budget on March 10. The budget session have a total of 21 sittings and conclude on April 7.
