SHILLONG: The State budget 2017-18 disappointed opposition parties who saw it as a repetition of the previous budgets.
Terming the budget as “directionless”, NPP leader and Dadenggre MLA James Sangma said it was on the expected lines.
“The chief minister has only stale ideas and the same gets repeated time and again,” he said, adding that it was “old wine in new bottle that will cause indigestion”.
UDP general secretary and Nongthymmai MLA Jemino Mawthoh too found nothing new in the budget which, he thought, was apprehensive of government policies, like GST and demonetisation.
“The government highlighted various development activities in the budget but the picture on the ground is different,” he said.
HSPDP chief and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit, who echoed similar views, said, “As far as the budget is concerned, there is nothing new and no new initiatives of the government figure in it,” he said.
He pointed out that most of the issues discussed during the debate on the Governor’s address did not find a place in the budget. Basaiawmoit said there was not much about the agriculture sector there was no mention of how to improve the power scenario in the State.
UDP working president and West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh felt besides some commitments and promises, the budget was a repetition.
“The detailed budget will be available later. The budget is high on promises but its delivery will be difficult,” he said.
