Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed met Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, here today. This was the first meeting he had with Jaitley after assuming the charge of the State as Chief Minister.
Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, was also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister discussed with the Union Finance Minister the support required for relief and rehabilitation post the devastating floods of the September 2014. He highlighted the need for reconstruction package for the State which has already been submitted to the Government of India.
Sayeed emphasized the need to speed-track the financing of the rehabilitation package, which needs to be started within the next month.
The Union Finance Minister assured the Chief Minister of full support and said the Centre would find ways to fund the immediate restoration of livelihood and reconstruction in the short-term.
Jaitley also suggested that the State Government should identify projects in the roads and other public-interest sectors which can be financed within the current budgetary allocation.
In view of the upcoming tourist season, the Chief Minister pointed out the urgency for restoring the existing tourism infrastructure which has been badly damaged in the floods.
This underlines the need for quick distribution of the package which has been with the Union Government for the last six months, he added.
Mufti Sayeed called on the President, Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, here today. The President complimented Mufti on assuming the charge of the Chief Minister of the State.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister apprised the President about the prevailing peace and development scenario in the State.
Earlier today, the Chief Minister also called on Vice-President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari. During their meeting which lasted 45 minutes, the Chief Minister discussed with the Vice-President various matters related to the development and security situation in the State.
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