AGARTALA, Jan 17 - After assessing the projected revenue receipts and expenditure and pre-devolution revenue deficit, the Tripura Government has demanded Rs 1,07,714.83 crore from the 15th Finance Commission, according to official sources.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, in a detailed memorandum, said that landlocked Tripura is still a growing economy in the North Eastern Region despite poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, communication bottlenecks and poor industrial growth.
Deb said keeping the massive unemployment problem in mind, the State Government has to play the role of a model employer. �Despite the best efforts to boost the economy, the impact has not been significant,� he admitted.
�Shortage of funds is the critical factor. Whatever Central funds are made available to the State are not sufficient to meet the requirements for continuing the pace of development works. Therefore, calculating all the developmental factors and parameters, the State Government in its memorandum submitted to the 15th Finance Commission for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25 demanded Rs 1,07,714.83 crore,� Deb said.
Besides, the Chief Minister also urged the 15th Finance Commission to increase the share of Central funding from 42 per cent to 50 per cent and a hike in the GST collection to reduce the revenue deficit.
Meanwhile, Finance Commission Chairman Dr NK Singh today assured that Tripura would get its dues to become a model State.
�Today, we had a detailed discussion with the Chief Minister, ministers and senior State Government officials at the conference hall of the Civil Secretariat and the State Government handed over a memorandum highlighting the new Government�s performance,� he told media persons after the crucial meeting.
