Imphal, December 22: The State Government has minutely briefed the Central team from the Union Finance Department, who are here on a four day visit, on the acute financial crisis gripping the State.

The team is led by the Additional Secretary BP Mishra of the Union Finance Ministry.

Disclosing this, an official source informed this reporter that the other members of the team include Joint Secretary of the Union Finance Ministry R Banerjee, Joint Secretary of Northeast Development, Harikrishna and AK Goud of the Home Ministry.

Finance Department officials from Nagaland and Mizoram who are scheduled to arrive here are yet to come.

The team was briefed on the acute financial crisis besetting the State by a high level team of the State administration during a meeting held today.

The State Government officers present at the meeting include Chief Secretary AP Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Saichuana and other key officials from the Finance Department, added the source.

The meeting which began from 3.30 pm and stretched on till 7 pm at the conference hall of Hotel Imphal dwelt at length on the financial crisis the State has had to face since 1991.The source further said that the Central team quizzed the State Government officials whether the acute financial crisis is due to non-availability of funds or otherwise.

The meeting also discussed the recurring overdraft and the financial management of the State Government.

Intent on highlighting the true picture of the financial crisis here and keen on finding a solution to the problem, the State Government officials made it clear that if there is no consistent cash flow the financial situation will not improve much, the source further said.

The meeting will proceed further tomorrow.

The Central team will call on the Chief Minister tomorrow at 3.30 pm.

The acute financial condition besetting the State will also be discussed threadbare in the meeting with the CM, said the source adding that other senior ministers are expected to take part in the meeting.

On the last day of their four day visit, the Central team will visit Khuman Lampak Sports Complex and study the work being taken up there presently.

The source further said that the Central team will submit reports not only on Manipur but also on other Northeastern States on the financial situation in the region.

Comment