Georgian Parliament approved on March 22 the amendments to 2011 state budget to adjust it in line with recently approved package of downscaling Ministry of Environment.

According to the amendments, the Environment Ministry’s funding will be cut from GEL 27.2 million to GEL 15 million, while Energy Ministry’s funding will increase from GEL 204.7 million to GEL 216.8 million as a result of incorporating some of the Environment Ministry’s and Economy Ministry’s functions related to the use of natural resources. As a result funding of the Economy Ministry will be reduced by GEL 115,000.

The budgetary amendment also applied to the Ministry for Regional Development and Infrastructure, whose funding was increased by GEL 118,000. The ministry will incorporate functions related with coastal management, which previously were under the Ministry of Environment’s subordination.

These budgetary amendments do not reflect GEL 50 million spending related to the distribution of one-time GEL 30 (about USD 17.5) food vouchers and GEL 20 one-time electricity vouchers.

Georgian Finance Minister Kakha Baindurashvili told MPs on March 22 that the funds for vouchers were allocated from the existing “reserves”. He, however, added that the government would submit relevant budgetary amendments to the parliament to meet the target of planned increase of monthly minimal pension up to GEL 100 from September.