KOKRAJHAR, March 21 - BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary today presented the Council Budget for the year 2018-19. The Budget proposed a total estimated expenditure at Rs 241626.49 lakh against total estimated receipt of Rs 242987.48 lakh with a surplus of Rs 1360.99 lakh.
Presenting the Budget on the first day of the two-day BTC session that began from Wednesday at the BTC premises, Bodofa Nwgwr here, Mohilary, who is also the head of the Finance department, said that the council is committed to achieve the growth target as per the Plan allocation.
In his Budget speech, Mohilary thanked the Prime Minister of India for providing special financial assistance through the State government to the BTC to encourage and facilitate the developmental activities in the region. The State government has made Budget provision in the year 2018-19 in addition to last year�s fund provided as a one-time special grant of Rs 1000 crore for the region, out of which Rs 300 crore is going to be released before March 31, 2018, he said.
�In addition to the higher allocation and special allocation of Rs 300 crore and also further allocation of a sum of Rs 177.52 crore as per recommendation of the Assam State Finance Commission to the BTC for the year 2018-19, I am confident that this will go a long way in overcoming the development deficits of the region and help bridge infrastructural gaps that the BTC area suffers,� he stated.
Mohilary also underlined the major thrusts being given by the BTC with active support of the State government in the financial year 2018-19. �To improve the educational infrastructure of higher learning, the State government has earmarked Rs 15 crore for Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, Rs 5 crore for BB Engineering College in the name of Tejasvi Navaditamastu,� he said while adding that the construction works of Kokrajhar Medical College, BEd College at Baksa, DIET at Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri will also commence from current year under SCERT.
Mohilary also thanked the Assam Chief Minister for declaring an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of martyrs of the Bodoland movement in Assam. �The last decade of the 20th century witnessed the Bodo agitation in parts of Assam. Subsequently, the movement resulted in the historic signing of the Bodoland Accord and creation of the BTC. The creation of the BTC is the result of the sacrifices of these bravehearts,� he said.
Mohilary said that the council has emphasized more on the public works department which is followed by health, education, forest, tourism etc. He also said that the council has earmarked Rs 4842.00 lakh for PWD, Rs 7500.00 lakh for education, Rs 825.00 lakh for PHE, Rs 1310.00 lakh for irrigation, Rs 500.00 lakh for Forest and Rs 500.00 lakh for tourism.
Meanwhile, issues relating to AH & veterinary, land revenue, sericulture, excise, education, sports and youth welfare were debated today during the business hours of the council.
