Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday called on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi and sought financial assistance from the Centre for various matters related to the State including implementation of seventh Central Pay Commission.
According to sources, during the course of the meeting, the Chief Minister also demanded pre-devaluation of 14th Finance Commission for the State to tide over the financial crunch.
The State requires an additional special fund of Rs 1100 crore to implement seventh Central Pay Commission for around two lakh government employees and pensioners.
It is learnt that after giving a patient hearing, Jaitley assured Deb to do the needful so that the seventh Central Pay Commission is implemented as promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before the recently concluded Assembly election in the State.
Earlier, Deb also met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the latter’s official residence in the national capital.
The Tripura Chief Minister discussed various issues ranging from internal security to border management in the context of the state of Tripura with the Union Home Minister.
A press communique issued by the Chief Minsiter’s office in Agartala stated that there has been a ‘discussion to facilitate clearing of movement of heavy material and equipment of various PSUs such ONGC via Ashuganj port in Bangladesh into Agartala directly to the godowns as per the protocol adopted for FCI trucks in 2015 under which it permitted to take trucks through prescribed routes inside Agartala and escorted to go-down directly. This will save the time as well as the transportation cost required for transhipment at the ICP.’
The Chief Minister also held meetings with the chairman and managing director (CMD) of National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC), Anoop Kumar Mittal, Chief Managing Director, Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) Shashi Shankar and DG of Software Technology Park, Dr Omprakash Rai.