Sushil Modi to demand increased allocation of funds
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi has confirmed that the state will urge the 15th Finance Commission to raise the tax revenue allocation, which is shared by states on the pattern recommended by 11th Finance Commission. He added that the state will also demand that the disaster management expenditure be borne by the Central government.
A team of 15th Finance Commission, led by Chairman NK Singh will be on a three-day tour to Bihar starting July 10. "The 11th Finance Commission had fixed allocation of 12.589 per cent of the tax revenue shared by the states, which was slashed to 9.6 per cent by the 14th Finance Commission", said Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi in a statement.
The 14th Finance Commission had allocated Rs 2591 crore for disaster management for Bihar, though the outlay was much higher for states including Maharashtra and Rajasthan, alleged Sushil Kumar Modi. “This was despite us facing both floods and droughts. Floods last year involved an expenditure of about Rs 5000 crore, we would henceforth demand the Centre to bear the disaster management expenditure”, added the deputy chief minister.
The Bihar govt will submit a memorandum and will prepare a presentation to be put before the visiting team on July 12. Various schemes under the agricultural road map and seven resolutions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also be discussed with the team. The commission members during their three-day visit, will also hold meetings with the ministers of the state, political parties, urban local bodies, Panchayati Raj organisations and representatives of trade and industry.
