By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 22 Feb: After discussions on cut motions pressed by the Opposition members on each head of account, the state assembly passed the budget, today, totaling an amount of over Rs 1 lakh crores. The Finance Minister and the ministers of various departments sought the approval of the house regarding the budget for each head of account and managed to get the budget passed rejecting all the cut motions by voice vote. Along with this, the Appropriation Bill for the total amount of the budget was also passed by the House this evening. For a change, the House today had a full sitting despite it being a Saturday. Various issues were discussed in detail before the budget’s approval.
Earlier, the budget was discussed department-wise in the House. The budget for 29 different groups of departments was presented and debated. Opposition MLAs raised questions regarding the poor performance of several departments and proposed budget cuts.
The departments received the following budget allocations: Rs 81 crore 62 lakh for the Department of Elections; Rs 18,190 crore 74 lakh for Finance, Tax, Planning, Secretariat, and other services; Rs 161 crore 46 lakh 62 thousand for Cooperation; Rs 1,897 crore 73 lakh for Irrigation and Flood; Rs 478 crore 76 lakh for the Tourism Department; Rs 653 crore 07 lakh for Horticultural Development; Rs 11,909 crore 19 lakh for Education, Sports, Youth Welfare, and Culture; Rs 1.114 crore 83 lakh for Forest; Rs 3,967 crore 03 lakh for Water Supply, Housing, and Urban Development; Rs 1,259 crore 94 lakh 66 thousand for Agricultural Work and Research; Rs 4,292 crore 95 lakh 35 thousand for Medical and Family Welfare; Rs 2,856 crore 02 lakh 02 thousand for Rural Development; Rs 2,882 crore 08 lakh 20 thousand for the Public Works Department (PWD); Rs 932 crore 94 lakh 22 thousand for the Animal Husbandry Department; Rs 508 crore 89 lakh 44 thousand for the Department of Labour and Employment; Rs 2,682 crore 91 lakh 72 thousand for State Development Schemes; Rs 937 crore 54 lakh 90 thousand for the Food Department; Rs 106 crore 94 lakh for Legislative Assembly expenses; Rs 101 crore 42 lakh for Cabinet expenses.
In addition, the budget was also passed for an amount of Rs 521 crore 67 lakh for the Administration of Justice; Rs 2 thousand 500 crore for Revenue and General Administration; Rs 45 crore 82 lakh for the Excise Department; Rs 33 crore 93 lakh for the Public Service Commission; Rs 3 thousand 3 crore 70 lakh for Police and Jail; Rs 406 crore 46 lakh for the Information Department; Rs 1659 crore 59 lakh for the Energy Department; Rs 515 crore 7 lakh for the Industry Department; Rs 396 crore 94 lakh for Transport and Rs 2,555 crore 93 lakh for Scheduled Tribes.
Earlier, while pressing for cut motions proposed by them, Opposition members raised some pertinent issues.
