Aizawl: Mizoram Assembly today passed the state annual Budget for 2008-09 amounting to Rs 2,625.03 crore as presented in the legislature by chief minister Zoramthanga, who also holds Finance portfolio, on March 11.

Demand-wise discussion on the budget commenced from March 19 and was concluded by passing the demands of Sports Minister Z H Ropuia and Chief Minister Zoramthanga today.

The state annual budget, sans new taxes and new tax rates on the year of the state assembly election, is estimated to open with Rs 84.65 defecit and close with Rs 30.36 crore as the next fiscal is estimated to have a surplus of Rs 54.29 crore.

Zoramthanga said that the priorities of the state government would be agriculture and allied services with emphasis on self-sufficiency in food production and also infrastructure development like road communication and also health, education and youth sectors.

He announced that new provisons like crop insurance for farmers and market intervention would be taken up during he next fiscal.

Formation of Department of IT and Minor Irrigation and also constitution of state Youth Commission were the new feature of the Budget.
Source : PTI