Chennai: Tamilnadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Thursday. Union Finance Secretary T V Somanathan and Secretary of Tamilnadu Finance Department N Muruganandam were present.
During the meeting the State requested the Union Minister to release all pending funds, including Rs 6,230 crore under the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) and the GST compensation dues, before 31 March so that it can be accommodated in the State budget this fiscal year.
During the 30-minute meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan raised issues related to pending dues to Tamilnadu, including flood relief funds and extra funds that can be borrowed this fiscal year.
He said, the State could utilise the funds under the Financial Year 2021-22 as delay would mean it would have to be accommodated for FY 2022-23. It is learnt Nirmala Sitharaman assured Palanivel to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Region’s Task Force on Media and Entertainment T G Thyagarajan called on Chief Minister M K Stalin at the Secretariat in Chennai on Thursday.
Also, the Tamil Nadu chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) submitted the pre-budget recommendations to Palanivel Thiaga Rajan for Tamilnadu Budget 2022-23.
The recommendations stressed on the need for focus on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector as it ensures job opportunities in the State which is the need of the hour. Further, the MSMEs also need a special helping hand and should be exempted from approvals and inspections for the next three years under the State laws.