AGARTALA, June 9 (TIWN): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday urged all officials to ensure speedy completion of all projects implemented with funding from Special Central Assistance (SCA) and Special Plan Assistance (SPA).A marathon meeting with Chief Secretary, Directors, secretaries and other senior officials of all departments was chaired by Chief Minister Sarkar at the civil secretariat this afternoon. The meeting which started at around 4:30 PM continued even after 7 PM this evening.

Speaking to media later today, Chief Secretary Dr. Sanjay Kumar Panda said that the Chief Minister urged all projects aided by SPA and SCA to be completed forthwith.

A source in the Finance Department said later this evening that the meeting discussed special plan assistance (SPA) funds to priority projects and sectoral allocation to ongoing projects. Enhancement of Special Plan Assistance (SPA) is needed in the current financial situation of the state to negate the impact of huge negative BCR and increase the availability of resources for planned development, the source added.

As the BCR in the scheme of financing for 2014-2015 is estimated to be Rs. 1709.96 crores, the state is now expecting special plan assistance and special central assistance amounting to Rs. 1,500 crores at the minimum during 2-14-2015 to take care of resource gap in the non-plan sector.

The special plan assistance (SPA) and special central assistance (SCA) aided projects include National Social Assistance Programme including Annapurna, Backward Regions Grant Fund, National E-governance action plan, Border Areas Development Programme, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, assistance to shifting cultivation and tribal sub-plan among other sectors.