Nitish asks Jaitley to release balance of special assistance

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has written to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking release of the remaining Rs 6,359.19 crore of the special assistance that was earmarked for the state as part of the 12th five year plan. "The remaining funds of special assistance to the tune of Rs 6,359.19 crore under BRGF (Backward Region Grant Fund) may be released in the financial year 2016-17 itself as this is the last financial year of the 12th five year plan period so that projects are completed on time,” Kumar said in his letter to Jaitley dated May 31.

Kumar had earlier received a letter from Jaitley on April 6 in which he had communicated the actions taken in the light of the chief minister's missive to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 1 this year. "You will also appreciate that any delay in release will apart from being detrimental to the development needs of Bihar, also lead to cost and time overrun," Kumar said.