Nitish demands fixation of plan size at Rs 24,000 cr

Patna, Feb 14 (PTI) Demanding fixation of the 2011-12plan size for Bihar at Rs 24,000 crore, Chief Minister NitishKumar today said a dispute had cropped up due to differencesin estimates on income from the taxes to be imposed by thestate.

''''Our stand on the issue of fixation of plan size at Rs24,000 crore for 2011 is justified ... I think PlanningCommission will approve the plan size,'''' Kumar told reporterson the sidelines his weekly ''Janata Darbar''.

Member of Planning Commission Narendra Jadhav during ameeting with him had indicated the Commission''s approach, hesaid.

Stating that differences in estimates on income fromtaxes to be imposed in Bihar had raised the ''dispute'', Kumarsaid ''''We have pegged the plan size at Rs 24,000 crore for thenext fiscal.

"This is after evaluating the income from imposition oftaxes in conformity with the 13th Finance Commissionrecommendations. There is some shortfall in the calculation bythe Centre on this count.''''

Kumar, who would be leaving for New Delhi this evening,said he would try to meet Union Finance Minister PranabMukherjee to seek an annual provision of Rs 4,000 crore asspecial help for Bihar in the five year plan.

''''I expect that the Centre will now adopt a positiveattitude towards Bihar and will give a go ahead to the state''splan size,'''' he said adding it was like a ''litmus test'' forthe UPA government.

After Jharkhand was carved out, it was planned to provideBihar a special assistance of Rs 1000 crore per annum from2002 for the execution of central schemes.

The state government had later concurred to hand over theexecution works of those schemes to the central agencies.

"There are many schemes which are at the final stagesof completion. To complete by end of the current financialyear, the state would require a sum of Rs 3100 crorefrom the centre.

"Unfortunately we are getting indications that theCentre is backing out and is considering afresh to give Rs1500 crore to the state which will be unjust and breach ofpromise," Kumar said.

The Chief Minister said he would present these issuesduring his meeting with Mukherjee.

In 2004, when UPA came to power there was mention of aspecial package for Bihar in the presidential address. ''''Butnothing has been done in this regard as yet,'''' he said.

On his expectations from the central budget for 2011-12,the Chief Minister said it should be one which is lower inregional imbalances and should provide much relief to peopleas faulty central policies have led to inflation in thecountry.