Kohima: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has assured Chief Minister T R Zeliang that he would give a ‘sympathetic consideration’ to the requests of the state government of Nagaland.
According to a statement by CMO at Kohima, this assurance was given when Zeliang raised the issue of financial problems being faced by the state and highlighted that 42 ongoing projects funded under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) requires an amount of Rs 594.81 crore for completion.
He also informed the Union Finance Minister that grants such as Normal Central Assistance (NCA) and Special Central Assistance (SCA) have been discontinued, resulting incompletion. An amount of Rs 340.09 crore is required for completion. Zeliang further told Jaitley that the state has been unable to provide matching share for various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, amounting to Rs 375.09 crore.
The Centre had approved a special package for Eastern Nagaland Areas, amounting to Rs 300.00 crore during 2012-13, under the additional SPA.
“However, the Centre did not release the funds and we need funds to clear the committed liabilities and to complete these projects,” he added.
The CM then highlighted that Nagaland needs special grant from the Centre to wipe-off the accumulated deficit of the state, has gone up to Rs 1500 crore.
He highlighted the need for raising the constitutional ceiling limit on professional tax from Rs 2500 per year, especially for the NE tribal states, where the tribal are exempted from paying income tax, the statement added. (UNI)
