Imphal, July 08: The Assembly has today started the discussion on the Budget Estimates for the fiscal 2002-03.The discussion will resume tomorrow.

Joining in the discussion, MPP president and Opposition MLA O Joy said there is nothing much to look forward to the Budget as the State is reeling under the burden of a ballooning overdraft and a debt ridden economy.

Taking a dig at the Govt O Joy said the discussion on the Budget Estimates may not be proper as even the Planning Commission of India has not been able to work out the size of this year's Budget.

The Opposition member further said that it is highly unlikely that the Budget will do anything good for the State as there is a debt liability of Rs 1359 crores and an opening deficit of Rs 680 crores.

The amount of Rs 2800.1 included in the Budget Estimates and which the Assembly has brought forward for discussion will be spent in meeting the salary demands of the employees and pensioners and there is little to hope that any amount will be pumped in for development works, he further said.

Expressing grave dissatisfaction with the resource mobilization drive being taken up by the State Government, the MPP president said that mere lip service and paper works will not yield the desired results.

The Opposition stalwart also said that it would not be in fitness of things if the State Government violates the MoU reached between the Centre and the State to abolish 14 thousand posts and not to effect any fresh appointment.

The MoU was signed to better the State economy.

It would be grossly wrong if the Government appoints fresh employees on the sly, O Joy added.

Joy further said the suspension of IRB personnel involved in the gunning down of NSCN (IM) cadres at Pallel early this year instead of rewarding them will prove to be a big blow to the morale of the security personnel.

Instead of suspending them, they should be encouraged and the suspension revoked, the MPP leader maintained.

The State Government is unable to effectively carry out revenue collection drive as there is no revenue collection policy, he pointed out.

This is precisely the reason why the State Government finds it so hard to procure money from the Planning Commission.

L Ibomcha, FPM MLA said it would be pre-mature to discuss the Budget Estimates as the size of the Budget is yet to be fixed by the Planning Commission.

MLA S Chandra said that the Government has been neglecting Imphal East district adding that no adequate officials are posted there.

Moreover infrastructure is woefully short in this district, he said.