AGARTALA: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on August 30 said all northeastern states had raised concerns with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the withdrawal of the revenue gap fund, warning that the move could increase financial pressure on the region.
Saha said Tripura was expected to lose around Rs 4,000 crore annually following the withdrawal, based on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission. He said the issue was raised collectively by northeastern states during a meeting with Sitharaman in Shillong.
The Centre has sanctioned a fund titled ‘Pride of Hills’ to bridge the financial gap, but Saha said the allocation was insufficient to compensate for the loss.
He, however, said the financial constraints would not affect the state’s ongoing recruitment drive. “We are committed to filling vacant posts as much as possible if there are no technical problems,” Saha said.
Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy had earlier said the state could lose around Rs 4,000 crore annually, or approximately Rs 20,000 crore over five years.
He said the state had also highlighted its fiscal obligations towards government employees and pensioners before the Finance Commission. The issue has gained significance amid the process of constituting the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to revise salaries of government employees.
