Meghalaya seeks additional Rs 4,340 cr from Finance commission

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has sought an additional Rs 4,340 crore from the 15th Finance Commission for implementation of projects for 2020-25 period, state officials said Tuesday. In June, the state government had sought Rs 82,815 crore from the Commission including a pre-devolution revenue gap of Rs 62,870 crore to the state. On Tuesday, Conrad along with his cabinet colleague and state Tourism and Excise Minister Metbah Lyngdoh met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

During the meeting, the chief minister apprised her about overall financial position of the state and measures adopted by his government to increase its revenue.

He also requested Sitharaman for sanctioning of additional funds for different development projects.

During the meeting with N.K. Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission in New Delhi on Monday, the chief minister had highlighted the efforts being made by the state government to fast track development works in the key sectors of human development, primary sector, infrastructure development and enterprise development.

He submitted a “short supplementary memorandum to the chairman of the Finance Commission highlighting four key projects for the state and requesting assistance to the tune of Rs 4,340 crore for implementation of the projects during the 2020-25 period”, according to a statement from the CMO.

There are four projects including Conduct of the 39th edition of the National Games in 2022, Development of the State as a high-value tourism destination, Building cable propelled transportation system (cable-cars/ ropeways) as long- term solution to decongest Shillong city and setting up of a University of Culture in the state.

The government is hopeful that the Finance Commission will favourably consider grants-in-aid support to the State for the implementation of these projects, the statement added.