Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, June 11:
The Manipur Governor, Ved Marwah Prakash has requested the Union finance minister for a special assistance of Rs 606 crores so as to be able to tide over the state�s immediate financial crunch, according to a finance department source.
Earlier on June 8 the finance department issued an order to allow the encashment of HRA/SCA entitlements of government employees for the months of January 1 to December 31, 1999, if the same have not been already encashed with the April and May arrears of pay.
The debt service burden on the state government�s shoulders at the very moment is above Rs 800 crores.
Over and above this is the monthly overdraft of the government with the RBI making it helpless even to clear salaries and pensions regularly.
The Governor�s request for a special package of Rs 606 crores is by way of a temporary relief package, the source said.
The Governor has left for New Delhi yesterday, and while in New Delhi, he will also be calling on the President, KR Narayan and submit his routine President�s Rule report to the latter, the source said.
The Governor is also scheduled to meet the Union home minister, LK Advani, and brief him of the state�s law and order situation as well as the measures taken up to counter the challenges to it, the source said he will also be calling on the Union finance minister, Jaswant Sinha to discuss the financial situation of the state and also measures to lift it out of its present predicaments.
Marwah will call on the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, KC Pant to discuss with him the state plan, the source further said.
The Governor is scheduled to return to Imphal on June 14.