Shillong, March 9: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday informed the house that the State government has released one-fourth of the remaining 30 percent arrear dues of the Government employees which is 7.5% of the overall arrears.

He further said that the remaining 22.5 percent arrears will be considered during the current financial year subjected to the availability of funds.

“The State Government has released one-fourth of the 30 percent arrears which is 7.5 percent of the overall arrears on February 11, 2021,” informed Sangma.

Replying to a query raised by opposition Opposition Chief Whip, PT Sawkmie, the Chief Minister said that the State government is making all efforts to prudently manage the finances despite the challenging times.

Raising a supplementary question, Sawkmie asked if the release of the 7.5 percent of the overall arrears have been accepted or not by the employees to which the Chief Minister replied that it is the endevaour of the State Government to clear the amount due to them and this was an amount that was supposed to be cleared in three installments.

“As I’ve mentioned earlier discussions took place with them, the Chief Secretary has met the employees they are aware of conditions and situation we face. It is in the endeavour of the government to do our best to ensure that the remaining part of the amount is cleared at the earliest,” he said.

On the shortfall of finances, the Chief Minister informed that the central devolution of taxes was budgeted at Rs 6,490 cr but the actual the State government received was Rs 4,698 crore which is a shortfall of 1,792.

“ In the states own taxes, there was a budget estimate of 2,377 but the actual were at 1,859 so there was a shortfall of 518 crores,” he added.