Delhi shows thumbs down to financial package

Times News

Agartala, January 25: New Delhi has shown red light to allowance of financial package in the face of acute financial constraint of state government, said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar here today. Speaking to reporters here this evening, the CM said, “We sought financial aid from the central government to tide over our ongoing financial situation. The reply came from Vice Chairperson of Planning Commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwahlia on January 21, 2012. It says nothing of the sort is possible in the current financial year”.

“The letter states that Delhi can’t do anything for Tripura in the current Financial Year out of the funds allotted in the Finance Commission awards. They have also given a detailed data of the increment in the letter. The fun is that we wrote the letter after knowing with all these statistics”, quipped the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today admitted the high allocations of the 13^th Finance Commission saying, “The Finance Commission allocated Rs. 300 crores in 2010-2011 under Additional Central Assistance and Special Plan Assistance while the amount was increased in 2011-2012 to Rs. 800 crores”. The state was also provided Rs. 200 crores interest free loan payable within any time till end of 10 years from withdrawal of the amount. Adding woes to the state government, Ahluwahlia informed that allocations in the sector tend to be uncertain. “They would be depending on budgetary financial allotment in these sectors. However, the centre will try to safeguard the interests of Tripura in plan related budget”, stated the Planning Commission vanguard.