Silchar, July 8 : Mizoram finance minister today presented a second vote-on-account for the next three months in the Assembly as the state government has not received any instruction from the Centre on the sharing pattern of centrally sponsored schemes.
Lalsawta presented a budget of Rs 18,23.8144 crore for the months of August, September and October.
"We have not yet received clear-cut instructions from the central ministries about the exact ratios on various centrally sponsored schemes, which cause difficulty in presenting a regular budget," Lalsawta told the Assembly in Aizawl today.
"The recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission was in favour of state governments after the increase of the tax share from 32 to 42 per cent but the discontinuance of the special category status of the northeastern states has caused insurmountable financial problem for Mizoram and other states in the region. Being a resource deficient state, we may not be in a position to take up certain centrally sponsored schemes," he added.
The chief ministers of all the northeastern states, including Mizoram, had submitted a joint memorandum to the Centre, demanding continuation of the special category status. "We are still awaiting a positive response from the Centre," he said.
"We cannot yet ascertain the amount of funds that will be devolved to the state government from the North Eastern Council and the DoNER ministry, which are part of the plan size determinants."
The first vote-on-account in the current fiscal was presented on March 19 for April to July.