Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 19:
The state government is to press the Centre for immediate release of the 15% non-plan revenue deficit grant due for last year, which was withheld under the Centre's medium term fiscal restructuring policy for 2000-2005.A team of officials led by the chief secretary, Rakesh and including principal secretary V Chhibber, and joint secretary (economic affairs) H Dilip Singh, is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow to hold talks with Union finance ministry officials in this regard.
It may be mentioned that 15% of the non-plan revenue deficit grant provided to the state by the 11th Finance Commission was withheld by the Centre under the medium term fiscal restructuring policy, to be released to the state on fulfillment of certain conditions.
Reliable sources said the state has fulfilled the conditions set by the Centre, as well as an additional condition for 5% financial improvement over the previous year.
As such, during the meeting with the Union finance ministry officials, scheduled to be held on December 21, the state officials will be pressing for release of the 15% withheld amount of the non-plan revenue deficit grant for the financial year 2000-2001.It may be mentioned that the 11th Finance Commission had awarded a total of Rs 174494 lakhs to the state as non-plan revenue deficit grant for the period 2000-2005.