Post-Covid economic revival : Tripura CM meets PM, seeks Centre’s help
As the country is bouncing back to normalcy in post-Covid situation, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has sought Centre’s help to rejuvenate State economy in terms of both the short-term and long-term perspectives.
With a clearly chalked out plan for economic revival in neo-normal situation, Deb met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday and placed demands relating to financing, attaining self reliance through cash crop sector activities and harnessing connectivity related infra activities.
As far as the issue of financing is concerned, Deb has sought Centre’s support to meet shortfall of Rs. 2761 crore for 2020-21 by enhancement of revenue gap grants. He also demanded quick release of balance funds of about Rs. 650 crore from Ministry of Finance for completion of on-going projects worth Rs. 1000 crore in Tripura.
The Chief Minister also requested for removing the moratorium on new proposals for Externally Aided Projects (EAP) by the Department of Economic Affairs, and allowing at least one EAP in the Road sector.
These steps would help to propel the economy and lay a foundation for long-term growth in post-Covid situation, experts opined.
For sustainable growth and creation of job opportunities, Deb sought support from the Centre for the Rubber and Tea sectors, particularly for procurement of rubber by TRIFED or other Government agency to kick-start the rubber industry in Tripura and to negate the slowdown due to COVID pandemic. He made another request to declare four ‘in-principle’ approved state highways into national highways.
In this connection, the Chief Minister also placed demand for funding of Special Economic Zone at Jalefa in Sabroom under the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme of Ministry of Commerce and also stressed on expediting the DPR preparations for Logistics Hub at Sabroom for funding from Asian Development Bank.
His other demands included - sanction of 19 road projects under NERSDS by NEC, consent of Ministry of Finance for allowing open market borrowing as per GSDP of the state, and enhancement of approved normative allocation for drawl of NABARD Loan to the full amount of Rs.400 crore.
In his discussion with Prime Minister, Deb also highlighted progress, important achievements and major initiatives taken in the State by the new Government during April 2018 to October 2020 in the areas of agriculture and farmers welfare, horticulture, fisheries, animal resource development, forestry, Mukhyamantri Swanirbhar Parivar Yojana, Prime Minister Awas Yojana, Bru families resettlement, Atal Jaldhara Mission, Scheme for Hawkers and Street Vendors, development of National Highways and scheme for shopkeepers etc..
According to an official press release, the Prime Minister has assured Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb that the Centre would extend full support to Tripura. Notably, Deb also met Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and held extensive discussions.
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