Vote on Account sought for Rs. 1,109.20 crore

GANGTOK, 19 March: The Vote on Account of the Government of Sikkim for the financial year 2012-13 was presented by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is also the Minister-in-Charge of Finance, Revenue and Expenditure Department, on the first day of the two-day long sessions of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly today.
The total fund requirement is of the order of Rs 1,109.20 crores, comprising of Rs 816.30 crores on Revenue Account and Rs 292.90 crores on Capital Account, worked out based on the Budget Estimate for 2011-12.
The Vote on Account is to cover expenses for the three months from April to June, 2012 and has been prepared for presentation to the Legislative Assembly pending consideration of the detailed Demand of Grants for the year 2012-13.
The Vote of Account is intended for distribution of salaries, wages and other expenses for running the government offices. Apart from these, any other disbursements shall be subject to clearance of the Finance, Revenue and Expenditure and Development Planning, Economic Reforms and North Eastern Council Affairs Department.
The Vote of Account shall not used for incurring expenditure on new items and new services.
The State Budget for the financial year 2012-13 is still awaited due to non finalization of Annual Plan for 2012-13. The finalization will take place only after the presentation of the Union Budget 2012-13 and thereafter when the sectoral plan allocations are made. As such, the preparation of Demands for Grants etc. will take some time, it is informed.
The Chief Minister, it may be recalled, will be meeting the National Planning Commission in New Delhi next month to finalise the plan outlay for Sikkim. The Budget Session is expected sometime in June.