Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday described the attitude of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh towards granting financial package to bail out the state from its present financial crunch as “positive”.
“The Prime Minister appeared to be positive in his approach, he listened to us and though he did not make any immediate commitment, he promised to consider Tripura’s case along with those of some other states”, Sarkar told reporters.
“We always look at northeast from a different point of view. Though the amount you have asked for is quite hefty, we will examine all the issues along with those of some other states and take an appropriate decision’, the chief minister quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
The Prime Minister also stated that the problems of the north-east needed to be seen in a different manner.
The Chief Minister accompanied by the state finance minister Badal Chowdhury met the Prime Minister in New Delhi on Monday last and asked for granting a special financial package to cope with the present financial crunch arising out of the alleged deprivation by the 13th Finance Commission.
The state finance minister had explained in detail to the Prime Minister how the 13th Finance Commission had underestimated the state’s non-plan fund condition by taking the year 2005-2010 as the base year for calculations on expenses on salaries and by taking the year 2007-2008 as the cut-off year for calculation of pension.
“The Prime Minister made a commitment that very soon he would form a committee comprising senior officials from the planning commission, union finance ministry and Prime Minister’s office and two officials from Tripura”, the Chief Minister said.The Prime Minister also assured the Chief Minister that upgradation of National Highway 44 to a four lane highway would be taken up at the earliest for which it would be included in the 12th five year plan.
Sarkar said Singh also assured him that the Rs 440 crore project submitted by Tripura to the Planning Commission and union Tribal Welfare ministry for utilisation of land allotted under the Forest Right Act would be looked into for sanction. (PTI)