From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: The Left-ruled Tripura which has been reeling under severe financial crisis after declaration of 13th Finance Commission awards, demanded a financial package of Rs 13,600 crore from the Centre to tide over the situation.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar accompanied by the state Finance Minister Badal Chaowdhury called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his official residence in Delhi on Monday and put forward a demand of Rs 13,600 crore to get rid of the acute financial crisis arising out of the alleged deprivation by the 13th Finance Commission, official sources said here on Tuesday.
Sources said Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to the two state ministers. Earlier, Finance Minister argued that if West Bengal could be given a special financial grant of Rs 23,600 crore then why Tripura should be deprived of such grants to tide over the same problem.
During the last meeting of the National Development Council (NDC), Chief Minister had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister.
Even during the last Dhaka visit, the Prime Minister told Sarkar that he had received the letter seeking a special central assistance. Sarkar accompanied Singh during the visit.
According to Finance Minister, the state government faces tough as the 13th Finance Commission did not do justice to Tripura. Chowdhury said that the it had not only allocated less allocation for the salary and pension expenditure, but also imposed strict conditions in getting outlay under different heads including state specific needs.
“Though the 13th Finance Commission had sanctioned Rs 500 crore under the state specific needs for Tripura, it would be tough for the state to comply the condition set by it,” he said.
The FC in its recommendations had clearly mentioned that fund under the state specific needs would not be released unless the state implements FRBM properly.