Apang pleads Centre for one-time debt waiver

Itanagar, Mar 7 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has urged Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram for one-time debt waiver as an ideal solution to perennial financial problem of his state.

Mr Apang, who called on Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram at New Delhi on Monday, suggested that since the matter related to waivering of debt comes under the purview of the Finance Commission, constituted by the Centre, some solution should be worked out, official sources here today said.

The chief minister said his state was under the heavy burden of debt and explained that about 61 percent of the plan funds were being utilised for administrative expenditure, which include salaries of officials, wages of contingency and casual labourers employed in works departments etc.

As a result meager amount was left for various development schemes out of the funds being provided to the state by the Planning Commission for development.

UNI