Funds not reflected in budget will come from Ministries : CM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 10: Responding to CLP leader K Meghachandra’s assertion that the Budget Estimate 2026-27 tabled in the State Assembly on Monday would not be able to bring any meaningful development in the State, Chief Minister Y Khemchand has stated that funds for construction of road infrastructure which are not reflected in the budget will come from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and other Ministries.
During a general discussion of the Budget Estimate 2026-27, Meghachandra said that the State Government currently owes liabilities/loans amounting to a whopping Rs 26,936 crore.
The Congress MLA also expressed disappointment that the Budget Estimate 2026-27 is smaller than the budget of 2025-26.
He asserted that the Budget Estimate 2026-27 ought to be bigger than that of the previous financial year. He also expressed scepticism on how different departments can take up development programmes and welfare schemes with this smaller budget estimate.
Meghachandra asked the leader of the House to present a detailed account of the Centre’s assurance to speed up the State’s development pace, public welfare measures and restore complete peace in Manipur.
He went on to ask whether the Centre’s assurance will be able to recuperate the State’s financial deficit.
Pointing out that the destruction caused by the violent crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023 is quite huge, he remarked that the budgetary allocation of Rs 734 crore for assisting IDPs in recovering their lost properties and livelihoods is too small.
The amount of Rs 734 crore reflected in the budget estimate will not be able to reconstruct the houses and restore other properties destroyed during the crisis, he said.
Meghachandra asserted that the State Government and the Centre should bear full responsibility for all the houses and other properties destroyed during the crisis.
Taking due note of the budgetary allocation of Rs 350 crore for providing financial assistance to economically weaker women, he asked how the Government is planning to distribute Rs 10,000 each to  economically weaker women.
He sought details whether the financial assistance will be given Assembly Constituency-wise or to SHGs or IDPs or through Deputy Commissioners.
The CLP leader suggested the Government raise the budgetary allocation of Rs 914 crore for development of road infrastructure, and develop road infrastructure across all the 60 Assembly segments in an impartial manner.
Of the total budget estimate of 2026-27, 6.35 per cent will go to payment of interests, 18.40 per cent to payment of pension liabilities and 30.87 per cent to payment of salaries. What is left is just 44.38 per cent.
It will be nearly impossible to take up any meaningful development work and public welfare measures with this remaining 44.38 per cent, Meghachandra asserted.
The Budget Estimate 2026-27 will not be able to  bring any significant improvement in any of the key sectors including agriculture, education, healthcare, employment generation etc, he said.
The CLP leader asserted that people can expect very little from the Budget Estimate 2026-27.
Responding to the observations made by the CLP leader, Chief Minister Y Khemchand who is also in- charge of the Finance Department stated that the budget estimate for 2025-26 was Rs 30,968 crore and the revised estimate was Rs 33,010 crore.  
The budget estimate for 2026-27 is Rs 31,356 crore and it is true that the amount of Rs 734 crore allocated for relief measures of IDPs is insufficient, Khemchand admitted.
However, relief assistance was provided to IDPs through budgetary allocations during the last three financial years viz; 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
The amount of Rs 914 crore earmarked for road infrastructure is for only PMGSY and PWD roads. There will be an additional Rs 500 to 600 crore for development of road infrastructure from the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
Moreover, funds from DoNER and MoRTH are not reflected in the State budget, the Chief Minister clarified.
He said that the Government has been working to issue a notification on the women empowerment scheme under which financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each will be given to economically weaker women.