GUWAHATI, July 31 - �The State�s share of Central devolution has come down from 3.34 per cent to 3.31 per cent. Last year, we should have got Rs 29,000 crore by way of Central tax devolution but we eventually got Rs 25,000 crore, meaning a shortfall of Rs 4,000 crore. The State therefore has been forced to borrow more,� Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Bora, Finance Department told the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to the Prime Minister headed by its chairman Bibek Debroy here today.
The Economic Advisory Council took stock of the challenges that the State is facing and sought ways and means to unlock the full potential of the region.
Several representations were made by the senior officials of the State Government highlighting the challenges that the State is facing vis-�-vis industry, communication, infrastructure, transport, agriculture and connectivity among Central tax devaluation, revival of Hindustan Paper Mill (HPC) and the need to enhance international border trade with the neighbouring countries.
As far as HPC is concerned, the State Government has sought a revival package from the Centre and the Chief Minister has recently written to the Prime Minister in this regard, a senior Industry department official said.
Earlier, Debroy said that the EAC which was set up around two years back by the Prime Minister aims at harnessing the resources to the optimum level.
�North East is very important part of Union Government�s agenda and increase emphasis would be laid on improving its connectivity and other related issues,� Debroy said. He also said that the suggestions made by the State Government would prove handy in devising a road map of development.
The meeting was organised by Transformation and Development department.
