Pranab to meet finance ministers from northeast
June 3rd, 2012 - 4:57 pm ICT by IANS
Agartala, June 3 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet the finance ministers of northeastern states here Tuesday to discuss fiscal, infrastructural and investment problems of the region.
Tripura Finance Minister Badal Choudhury told reporters: “The proposed meeting would discuss about the fiscal problem of the eight northeastern states. It would also discuss about the lack of adequate infrastructure and required private and government investment.”
He said: “(Manipur) Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had requested the union finance minister to call a meeting of northeast finance ministers to discuss the growing fiscal, infrastructural and investment problems of this region.”
Due to lack of adequate infrastructure, including roads, the growth of the mountainous region becomes stagnant, he said.
The northeastern states, during the state finance ministers’ pre-budget meeting with Mukherjee in New Delhi in January, had demanded a special “connectivity and communication package” to attract investment and boost tourism and industrial development in the region.
“The centre must announce a connectivity and communication package for the northeastern states, without which there will be little possibility of industrialisation and investment to this industry-starved region,” said Choudhury.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front government in Tripura has been demanding a financial package of Rs.13,600 crore from the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to overcome the severe financial crisis in the state in view of the “erroneous recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission”.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar along with state finance minister Badal Choudhury had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi recently and submitted a proposal for a Rs.13,600 crore financial package from the central government to tide over the fiscal crisis facing the Left-ruled state.
Tripura has sought around Rs.27,000 crore from the central government but the 13th Finance Commission had recommended the sanctioning of Rs.16,350 crore in 2009. Its report was accepted by the central government in 2010.
- 'More financial sops being considered for northeast' - Nov 16, 2011
- Northeast seeks special package for industry, tourism - Jan 19, 2012
- Central government ignoring Tripura: Minister - Aug 30, 2011
- Pranab mulls special package for northeast - Jun 07, 2012
- Tripura demands central financial aid - Aug 17, 2011
- UPA neglecting states ruled by opposition: Tripura minister - Oct 12, 2011
- Tripura seeks fiscal package of Rs.14,600 crore - Nov 15, 2011
- Private participation vital to expedite development in northeast: Plan panel - Mar 30, 2012
- Budget neglects northeast: Tripura minister - Mar 16, 2012
- Left government in Tripura unhappy with budget, protests - Mar 01, 2011
- 'Northeast's connectivity issue to be dealt with' - Jun 20, 2012
- Special category states unhappy with finance panel: Tripura minister - Jan 20, 2011
- Northeast reviews disaster preparedness after quake - Sep 20, 2011
- Private tuitions by government teachers an offence: Tripura government - Jan 03, 2012
- North Eastern Council meet to boost development in region - Jun 26, 2012
Tags: adequate infrastructure, agartala, badal, communication package, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, finance ministers, fiscal problem, government investment, investment problems, manik, manmohan singh, mountainous region, northeastern states, pranab mukherjee, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, progressive alliance, state finance, union finance minister