The Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly passed the state budget for fiscal 2015-16 on Tuesday and also adopted the Appropriation Bill authorising the government to spend Rs. 30,185.78 crore from the consolidated fund. Wielding a fiscal axe, the assembly approved demands for grants by all departments at one go. Out of the total Rs. 3,01,85,77,91,000, Rs 45,01,28,92000 was charged on the consolidated fund while Rs. 2,56,84,48,99,000 was voted by the assembly.
The excise and taxation department has been allocated Rs. 52.58 crore for revenue and capital expenditure, the police and allied organisations Rs. 831.93 crore, agriculture Rs. 405.66 crore, horticulture Rs. 223.47 crore, health and family welfare Rs. 1,557.86 crore, irrigation & water supply and sanitation Rs. 2,452 crore and rural development Rs. 1,186.42 crore.
The tourism and civil aviation department has been allocated Rs.40.28 crore, road and water transport Rs. 208.02 crore, power development Rs. 829.45 crore and the forest and wildlife department Rs. 410.94 crore for revenue and capital expenditure.
Opposition members had moved cut motions for the public works department, police and allied organisations, health and education services but they were rejected in voting after discussion, while the other demands for grants were approved without deliberations.
"The bill has been introduced to provide for appropriation of money out of the state's consolidated fund required to meet expenditure charged on the consolidated fund and other expenditure as voted by the assembly in respect of the estimated expenditure of the government for FY2015-16," the Appropriation Bill read.
{{/usCountry}}"The bill has been introduced to provide for appropriation of money out of the state's consolidated fund required to meet expenditure charged on the consolidated fund and other expenditure as voted by the assembly in respect of the estimated expenditure of the government for FY2015-16," the Appropriation Bill read.
{{/usCountry}}After the chief minister presented the FY2016 state budget on March 18 in the assembly, discussion by legislators on the proposals began on March 23 and concluded on March 26..