Nagaland CM presents Rs 1,437.84 cr deficit budget for 2017-18

Nagaland Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu today presented a Rs 1,437.84 crore deficit budget for the 2017-18 fiscal in the state Assembly.
Liezietsu, who also holds the Finance portfolio, proposed the gross receipt for the fiscal at Rs 16,657.26 crore and expenditure at Rs 16,365.17 crore.
He said after deduction of the public accounts amounting to Rs 72.05 crore, the year was expected to end in a positive balance of Rs 220.04 crore.
Addressing reporters after presenting the budget, Liezietsu said the thrust area of the government in the new fiscal would be education, health and water.
He said the budget emphasised on upliftment of the poor and the rural population.

Stating that Nagaland was a resource crunch state, the Chief Minister said the government would try to reduce budgetary deficit in the coming years.

In his budget speech, Liezietsu said the highest priority of the DAN government has been to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the Naga political issue.
The Chief Minister hoped that the signing of the Framework Agreement by the Centre and NSCN(IM) in August 2015 and the active interest shown by the Centre to take the Naga political issue to its logical and peaceful conclusion, would have a positive outcome.
Recalling the situation arising out of the proposed elections to the Urban Local Bodies, Liezietsu asserted that the state government would have a re-look into the Nagaland Municipal Act with a view to rectify any defects in the Act and to incorporate new provisions and safeguards.

He said the government has to economise the non-planned expenditures, while improving its own revenue mobilisation to make more funds available for development works.
Discussion and passing of the budget would be taken up by the Assembly on March 30.