'Allow states to avail extra GSDP borrowing sans conditions'

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    Raipur, Jun 9 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday demanded that the Centre allow state
governments to avail the additional borrowing limit of 2 per
cent of GSDP without any conditions to tide over the COVID-19
crisis.
    In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,
Baghel requested the Centre to reconsider its decision to link
the increased borrowing limit of states to specific reforms,
an official statement said.
    He also stated that economic packages announced by the
Centre to deal with the COVID-19 situation and ensuing
lockdown are insufficient to revive the economy.
    Considering the demand of states, the Centre has
allowed an additional borrowing limit of 2 per cent of GSDP
(Gross State Domestic Product), but state governments are
unable to avail this benefit due to non-fulfillment of the set
criteria, the CM stated.
    States be allowed to avail the additional borrowing
limit of 2 per cent without any conditions so that they can
enhance their resources, it said.
    Baghel further said that automation of fair price
shops, including installation of POS machines in remote and
forest areas, is a difficult target to achieve for
Chhattisgarh, as 14 districts of the state are affected by
Left Wing Extremism activities.
    Similarly, there are many technical hurdles in
implementing the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) system by
ending the power subsidy being given to farmers in the
agrarian state, he added.
    The problem of scarcity of resources remains unchanged
for states and the responsibility of state government has
increased even more as economic packages announced by the
Centre to deal with the anomalous situation arising due to the
Corona crisis and nationwide lockdown are also insufficient to
revive the economy and meet the needs of the common people, he
said.
    It is the state's priority to provide free food grains
to the poor, regular salary to people and proper health
facilities for all, the CM said. PTI TKP
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)