Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the present status of the centrally sponsored schemes in the state on August 6 or 7.
On Tuesday Dr Saha in a press conference said “I have not received the exact schedule as yet but the meeting is likely to be held at mid-noon on August 6-7. I will leave at the evening on August 5. Each of the Chief Ministers would get only seven minutes time to speak”.
“The performance of the state as far as central schemes is quite satisfactory”, Dr Saha said but admitted that there were also shortcomings in projects. The shortcomings were found to be due to some unforeseen and unavoidable reasons.
For example, the Chief Minister said, “under Har Ghar Jal the achievement was about the 52 per cent of the target. But, some hilly areas due to topographical reasons full target could not be achieved. Besides, the tender was done before Covid. After Covid, the rates of various materials have increased and the contractors are facing problem with the rates given by them in the tender. So, these issues need to be addressed to.”
The Chief minister said he would draw the attention of the Prime Minister for early inauguration of the much ambitious and also geo-strategically important Matri Setu that would connect Tripura with Bangladesh.
“I have already discussed the issue with the representatives of Bangladesh government during a courtesy meet. The work is yet to complete in some patches on the Bangladesh side. But, I will take up the issue with Centre since it’s a matter of two countries,” the Chief Minister said.
However, Dr Saha pointed out that the Agartala-Akhaura rail link project had made good progress and it was likely to be completed in time.
“I have already discussed various issues including double-lane with the Minister of Railways. He is very much generous. He assured me of extending all-possible assistance,” he said.
On the much hyped ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign , the Chief Minister said the government had targeted 60 percent of total 8.5 lakhs households to hoist the Tricolour during this campaign from August 13 to 15.
