Nitish seeks Rs 24000 crore for Bihar

Patna, Feb 13 (PTI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumartoday urged Planning Commission to allocate Rs 24000 crore asthe annual plan size for Bihar for 2011-12.

At a meeting with Planning Commission member NarendraJadhav, he also demanded a grant of Rs 3145 crore for Biharfrom the Backward Region Grant Fund. official sources said.

The Centre, he said, should consider giving morefreedom to the state government for utilization of allocationfrom the Planning Commission to ensure effectiveimplementation of various schemes and development projects asper local requirements.

The Centre should set up an independent commission toidentify the number of people under BPL in Bihar andemphasized on cash payment to the beneficiaries instead offoodgrains, the sources said.

Jadhav appreciated the development works beingundertaken by the state government said the Commission wouldsympathetically consider the requirements, the sources added.