Manipur Congress flags Rs 8,927 crore unspent funds, rising debt citing CAG report

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has raised concerns over the state’s financial management, citing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) State Finances Audit Report for 2024-25 and alleging significant under-utilisation of budgetary allocations, low capital expenditure, rising debt obligations and delays in project implementation. Congress Legislature Party leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh urged the state government to fix responsibility for the alleged financial lapses or resign from office.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Singh said the CAG report presented a serious picture of the state’s financial management during 2024-25. The report examines Manipur’s fiscal position, revenue and expenditure trends, debt profile, borrowing patterns and budgetary management.

According to the figures cited by the Congress leader, against a total budget provision of Rs 37,392.66 crore in 2024-25, Rs 8,927.55 crore remained unspent, accounting for 23.88 per cent of the total provision. Singh said the figures pointed to concerns over budget execution and utilisation of available resources.

He also highlighted the state’s capital expenditure. Against a capital budget provision of Rs 8,989.60 crore, actual expenditure stood at Rs 2,704.23 crore, according to the figures cited by him. Singh said the low utilisation raised questions about the implementation of development and infrastructure projects.

The Congress leader further pointed to the gap between budgeted and actual receipts of grants-in-aid from the Centre. He said Rs 16,015.85 crore had been budgeted under the head, while actual receipts stood at Rs 5,473.21 crore. He sought an explanation for the gap and the utilisation of central assistance.

Singh also raised concerns over the state’s borrowing and debt position. He said Manipur raised gross borrowings of Rs 11,599.08 crore during 2024-25, of which Rs 9,420.41 crore, or 81.22 per cent, was used for repayment of earlier principal.

According to the figures cited by Singh, the state’s gross debt and other obligations rose to Rs 20,846.88 crore at the end of 2024-25, compared with Rs 18,871.79 crore a year earlier. Interest payments during the year stood at Rs 1,022.23 crore.

Singh also highlighted the status of incomplete projects, saying 138 projects remained unfinished despite expenditure of Rs 7,473.53 crore on them. He said delays in completing such projects could affect their intended benefits and potentially lead to cost escalation.

The Congress leader also referred to savings of Rs 229.94 crore under the Relief and Disaster Management grant during 2024-25, noting that substantial savings had also been recorded under the same grant in previous years.

"The CAG is not an opposition party. It is the constitutional auditor of public money," Singh said, referring to the audit findings. He said the report raised concerns over budgetary under-utilisation, debt, capital expenditure and incomplete projects at a time when Manipur was facing significant challenges.

Singh urged the state government to fix financial responsibility for the issues highlighted by the Congress and said those unable to discharge their responsibilities should resign from their respective posts.

The CAG report on Manipur’s state finances for 2024-25 was prepared for submission to the Governor under Article 151 of the Constitution and provides an independent assessment of the state’s fiscal position and budgetary management.