Pre-budget meet: FM seeks release of green bonus

DEHRADUN:At a pre-budget meeting held today at Vigyan Bhavan presided over by Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Uttarakhand Finance Minister made a strong plea for the release of green bonus and also apprised him about the financial problems being faced by the state due to the implementations of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission.

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 19

At a pre-budget meeting held today at Vigyan Bhavan presided over by Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Uttarakhand Finance Minister made a strong plea for the release of green bonus and also apprised him about the financial problems being faced by the state due to the implementations of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. Prakash Pant discussed the schemes underway in the state in the light of the upcoming 2018-2019 budget.

The finance minister, in his submission before the Union Minister, said that due to the implementation of the 14the Finance Commission recommendations Uttarakhand has been receiving less Central assistance. “Since then, there has been a reduction of around Rs 2,000 crore per year in the Central assistance. Further, we are still awaiting the release of funds recommended by the 13th Finance Commission for the Centrally sponsored schemes under special plan assistance and other Central schemes,” said Pant.

He also made a strong plea for release of green bonus. “We were promised green bonus for our state’s exemplary role in conservation of environment. As such compensatory fund in the form of green bonus which should be given to us,” he said.

The minister also requested the Union minister to make a provision of Rs 1202.46 crore for Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in the Central budget, assistance in the ratio of 90:10 for starting work on pending power projects, Rs 100 crore as assistance for strengthening health services in the state and Central assistance for expanding rail network, especially in the context of Roorkee-Deoband and Tanakpur -Bageshwar, proposed rail network.

Funds for shiksha abhiyan sought

The minister also sought Rs 1202.46 crore for Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in the Central budget assistance in the ratio of 90:10 for starting work on pending power projects, Rs 100 crore as assistance for strengthening health services in the state and Central assistance for expanding rail network.