Congress CLP leader Keisham Meghachandra cites CAG figures on Manipur’s budgetary under-utilisation, rising debt, incomplete projects and fiscal concerns.
Imphal, Oct. 3: Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh on Saturday raised concerns over what he described as serious fiscal stress and weaknesses in budget execution in Manipur, citing findings from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s State Finances Audit Report for 2024-25.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Imphal, Meghachandra said the issue was not limited to government accounting figures but concerned the utilisation of public funds allocated for development, infrastructure, health, welfare and other essential services.
According to figures cited by the CLP leader from the CAG report, Rs 8,927.55 crore remained unspent against a total budget provision of Rs 37,392.66 crore during 2024-25. This represented an overall saving of 23.88 per cent.
Meghachandra said the CAG had pointed to persistent under-utilisation and weaknesses in financial planning and budget execution.
I addressed the Press on the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Report on State Finances for the year 2024–25, highlighting key concerns and stating that the report exposes serious fiscal stress and budgetary failures in Manipur.@RahulGandhi @kcvenugopalmp… pic.twitter.com/gaihgcfU0P
— Keisham Meghachandra Singh (@meghachandra_k) October 3, 2026
The CLP leader also highlighted the gap between the capital budget and actual expenditure. Against a capital budget of Rs 8,989.60 crore, actual expenditure was Rs 2,704.23 crore, leaving around Rs 6,285 crore unspent.
He said the figures raised questions over the implementation of development and infrastructure projects at a time when the state requires substantial public expenditure.
RELATED NEWS: Manipur's Planning Department Surrenders 76% of Budget, CAG Flags Rs 2,082-Crore Unspent
Meghachandra further questioned the gap in Central assistance. He said grants-in-aid from the Government of India had been budgeted at Rs 16,015.85 crore, while actual receipts stood at Rs 5,473.21 crore.
According to the figures presented by him, the difference amounted to approximately Rs 10,542.64 crore. He called for an explanation of the reasons for the shortfall in receipt of Central assistance and the utilisation of funds available to the state.
The Congress leader also pointed to the state’s borrowing pattern during 2024-25.
Manipur raised gross borrowings of Rs 11,599.08 crore during the year, of which Rs 9,420.41 crore, or 81.22 per cent, was used to repay earlier principal, according to the figures cited from the CAG report.
Meghachandra said the figures indicated the growing pressure of debt repayment on the state’s finances.
RELATED NEWS: CAG Audit Flags Rs 12,390-Crore UC Backlog, Off-Budget Debt in Manipur Finances
The state’s gross debt and other obligations increased to Rs 20,846.88 crore at the end of 2024-25, compared with Rs 18,871.79 crore a year earlier. Interest payments also rose to Rs 1,022.23 crore.
He additionally cited the latest figure for total outstanding debt and liabilities of the state government at Rs 32,590.57 crore as of March 31, 2026, based on the 2025-26 Revised Estimates.
Meghachandra also raised concerns over incomplete projects. According to the figures he cited, 138 projects remained incomplete despite expenditure of Rs 473.53 crore on them.
He said delays in completing such projects could lead to cost escalation and delay the intended benefits to the public, echoing the concerns contained in the CAG findings.
RELATED NEWS: CAG Audit Finds Manipur Left Nearly Rs 8,928 Crore Unspent in 2024-25, Flags Unauthorised Debt Overs
The CLP leader also referred to savings of Rs 229.94 crore under the Relief and Disaster Management grant in 2024-25, following substantial savings under the same grant in previous years.
He questioned the continued non-utilisation of funds at a time when Manipur is dealing with a prolonged crisis and people require rehabilitation, development and essential public services.
Meghachandra stressed that the CAG was the constitutional auditor of public money and not an opposition political organisation.
He said the report had placed before the people of Manipur concerns relating to budgetary under-utilisation, rising debt, weak capital expenditure, incomplete projects and the utilisation of available resources.
“Why did Rs 8,927.55 crore remain unspent during 2024-25?” he asked, while also seeking an explanation for the approximately Rs 10,542.64 crore gap between budgeted and actual Central grants-in-aid receipts cited by him.
RELATED NEWS: Manipur's Borrowings Mostly Go to Repaying Old Debt, CapEx Falls To Five Years Low, CAG Audit Finds
“These are not merely questions of accounting. They are questions of financial accountability and accountability to the people of Manipur,” Meghachandra said.
He further questioned the sustainability of the state’s finances in view of the increase in outstanding debt and liabilities.
Referring to the BJP-led government, Meghachandra asked how long the state could continue accumulating debt and liabilities and what measures were being planned to ensure sustainable public finances.
