AGARTALA, Oct 2 (TIWN): Central Govt has no option other than slashing funds as CPI-M Govt. failed to submit utilization report to the Central Govt. After NITI Aayog raised questioned over proper Utilization of funds, Tripura CPI-M’s main opponent is now NITI Aayog. CPI-M claimed, “Due to the adoption of a new policy at the Centre, Tripura lost Rs 1,356 crore in 2015-16”. However, NITI Ayog was asked by PM Modi to make a vision document & also to create road map for India’s development for the next 15 years. Issues like Partnerships with States for promoting development was also given to NITI Aayog. However, as per the vision document out of Rs. 475 crores, only Rs. 174 was utilized in Tripura. Targeting NITI Aayog Tripura CM said on Sep 21st at NE Industry Summit, “What has NITI Aayog done for Tripura?” NITIAayog may be beneficial for other states, but not for Northeast. In reply NITI Ayog member Bibek Debroy made it very clear what is NITI Aayog’s work actually as per the guideline of Central Govt. Debroy said, “NITI Aayog’s work is just to monitor. Developed states are known for their strengths. So state govt.’s first duty is to upgrade own strength". "We have many projects which can be utilized, as SMART City, project for Agriculture, Skill Development.

We have dashboard about how many villages are connected with mobiles. How much the quality of roadway. We have monitoring power of Education, water, electricity & everything”, said Debroy.

 However, after NITI Aayog’s monitoring CPI-M is under tremendous pressure as drawing central funds have not been so easy now.  CPI-M crying that central government has stopped funding under normal central assistance, special plan assistance and special central assistance. Besides, the fund flow under some major schemes has got reduced by Rs 314.72 crore during 2015-16.

The Tripura government statement came in response to the NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy's criticism of the state government's "laxity in utilisation of central funds". Debroy, who was here last week in connection with the "North East Connectivity Summit", said that it is not correct that the Tripura government was getting less funding from the Centre after the abolition of the Planning Commission.

“Central Govt. can not push you in everything, you have to know your own power”, Debroy said.

Manik Sarkar who is ruling Tripura since 23 years has been failed to upgrade the state with potentialities.

But after listening 67 years old Chief Minister remarks against the Govt. of India in the Industry Summit, he said, “Developed states are known for their strengths. So state govt.’s first duty is to upgrade own strength”.

Bibek Debroy on the 1st day of the summit on Wednesday said Tripura has  all potentialities but why an investor will come if you do not complete infrastructure?  Why people will come in Tripura to invest for Industry”?  Tripura close to Assam, to Bangladesh, and to be Southeast Asia Gateway but all the ideas of close distance is mentally, whether it takes less time to go to Bangladesh from Kolkata,

“ It has well infrastructure, rail-line, Airport plans-----------but have all of them completed? National Highway’s shape is miserable. You may have opportunities, but have you utilized it?  Is border haats, works on border is done?”, Debroy said.

On Saturday also, on tthe occasion of Older Persons’ Day-2016 in Tripura, Social Welfare Minister Bijita Nath said that the Central Govt has slashed half fund for 16000 pensioners who are 80+ in Tripura. Govt of India, launched a scheme for senior citizens to provide more pensions to them who are 80+. But before 2 years when the BJP led central Govt. came in power it discovered that Tripura Govt.’s report about 16,000  people  who are more than 80 was fully a bogus report. Now the govt has cut down the half fund and Tripura is getting only 8000 peoples’  allowance.

However, Minister Bijita Nath claims that Tripura Govt.’s report was much valid but now Govt is under heavy loss as the Central Govt. denied to provide honorarium for more 8000 people.

Thus it shows how Manik Govt was kneeled down to the reality after 23 years of corruptions held in state. Now CPI-M has nothing to do apart from Crying over free-flow of Central funds.