Shillong, Jan 17: The state Cabinet on Tuesday approved the enhancement of the Meghalaya Contingency Fund to Rs 1,800 crore.

Addressing media persons, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “It (contingency fund) has been enhanced from Rs 1,300 crore now to 1800 crore.” “This is basically a provision of a budgetary provision so that it will allow us to be able to spend the money which has not been provided in the budget itself,” he added.

He cited that the state will be receiving another Rs 100 crore more from the central government for the MGNREGS. “However, we have already exhausted the provisions within the budget, though the funds are coming in. So, to be able to allow us to spend that we have to increase the provisions through the contingency fund and, hence, that provision has been created,” the CM said.

He further cited the example of MeECL, which has been supported by the government with over Rs. 400 crores this year alone. “Hence, now we need more funds to be given to MeECL and the funds are there with us to give but the budgetary provisions are not there,” he said.