Reacting to the Interim Budget tabled by the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday, state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said the state has been repeatedly urging the Centre to provide additional plan funds with flexibility given to states and broad guidelines for speedy implementation of projects.

“This concern of states has not been reflected in the Interim Budget,” said Dasgupta.

Dasgupta welcomed the plan outlays the budget carries for schemes like NREGS, rural water supply, rural sanitation, urban renewal and school education. He was, however, critical about the rigid Central guidelines that makes it difficult for the states to utilise these schemes. Dasgupta also said the budget has failed to address the needs of the Indian economy in the backdrop of economic slowdown.

“We are aware about the limitations and constraints of an Interim Budget. We hope when the final Central budget is prepared for 2009-10, the concerns of the state governments are duly considered,” Dasgupta said.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had recently written to the Prime minister and urged him to set up a Rs 20,000 crore infrastructure development fund to help the state governments cope up with the economic meltdown.