By Preetam BC
Kokrajhar : The two-day Budget session of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) concluded on Wednesday. The budget of Rs.4667.7662 crore with a surplus of Rs.42.5206 crore of normal budget of BTC for the year 2019-20, placed by BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary who is also in-charge of finance, was approved in the House after general discussion.
Mohilary on Tuesday presented the estimated receipt and expenditure of normal budget of BTC (Councilized portion) for the year 2019-20 with estimate receipt of Rs 2,355.1434 crore and estimate expenditure of Rs 2312.6228 crore with a surplus of Rs 42.5206 crore for consideration of the House.
The budget stressed on rural development, health, road communication, education and agriculture among other development works in the BTC.
The department of WPT&BC was given highest allocation to the tune of Rs. 147.82 crore followed by education at Rs. 85 crore, health and family welfare at Rs. 53.10 crore, forest and wildlife at Rs. 53 crore and PWD (Roads) at Rs. 48.15 crore respectively.
The BTC chief said the Council is “committed and determined” to work harder with cooperation of all its members for all-round development of the Bodoland region. “To achieve this, support of the Centre and the state government is required,” Mohilary said adding the council was committed to achieve the growth target fixed as per the plan allocation.
Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition Rwngwra Narzary of United People’s Party-Liberal (UPPL) said the state government did not release adequate fund for BTC on population pattern which is 12.19 pc. The budget was just enhanced 10 pc.
Stating that holding of council budget session after the state budget is meaningless; the opposition member said “There is nothing to be discussed about the budget as everything depends on funds allocation by the state government. It is ready-made budget”.
Narzary said the Bodoland region — comprising the four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri — is a socially and economically backward region. However, the budget allocated to the region has showed lack of sincerity to develop the indigenous region.
Narzary said the BPF leaders, despite being an ally of the ruling government in the state, could not put pressure to allot more funds to the BTC as per the population ratio.
