Nitish for special assistance of Rs 4100 crore per annum

Patna, Feb 16 (PTI) Expressing happiness over PlanningCommission approving the plan size of Rs 24,000 crore forBihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today insisted on hisdemand for special assistance of Rs 4100 crore per annumduring the next plan period.

Talking to reporters on his arrival from New Delhi aftermeeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and PlanningCommission Deputy Chairman M S Ahluwalia, Kumar said, "by wayof approving the plan size of Rs 24,000 crore for next fiscal,the planning commission had fulfilled the needs andexpectations of Bihar".

"But, I still insist on getting a special grant of Rs4100 crore per annum during the next five year plan period...

I strongly raised the demand over the issue during mymeeting," Kumar said.

Mukherjee was requested to ensure that the funds weremade available to central agencies for the schemes identifiedby the Centre on time.

Referring to his meeting with Ahluwalia, the chiefminister said he elaborated on the special schemes of thestate and informed that the central agencies were carryingforward works on several projects in Bihar and it will requireRs 3345 crore to complete the job.

Though the state asked for making available Rs 3345crore from the Centre, it hardly received Rs 1450 crore, hesaid and demanded that the planning commission should arrangerest of the amount for completing all these projects.

Kumar said he also informed the planning commissiondeputy chairman about the steps taken by the state governmentfor improvement in energy sector.

"We have to work for setting up new thermal power plants,change 72000 km-long transmission line wire and ensure repairor change of transformer within 72 hours in rural areas and 24hours in towns and for which we will require additionalfunds," he said.