Patna,(BiharTimes): Chief minister Nitish Kumar said that initial estimate showed that Bihar would face about 1.3 per cent point loss in share for the state in overall amount due to the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission as compared to the 13th Finance Commission.

In a letter written to prime minister Narendra Modi on February 26, but released a day later he said: “Under 13th Finance Commission report Bihar’s share in overall amount was 10.9 per cent which will go down to 9.6 per cent as per 14th Finance commission which means a decrease by 1.3 per cent.”

Talking to the media at Patna airport after his return from New Delhi on Friday he sought both special package and special status for Bihar. He said that the special status would help bring in investments in the state and create new jobs for the youths.

Nitish said the prime minister’s letter indicated that all additional benefits Bihar was getting by way of plan money as per the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) after carving out of Jharkhand from it and Union government share in central schemes was being subsumed in the 10 per cent hike recommended in central taxes share. He described recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission as regressive for resource-hit states like Bihar.

“I urge you to make special arrangements for expected loss to a poor state like Bihar after implementation of 14th Finance Commission recommendations to ensure increase in plan expenditure,” the letter said.

Nitish told the mediapersons that he could not discuss these issues with Narendra Modi at the wedding party of Lalu Prasad’s daughter as it was not an appropriate occasion, but added that he met the Union finance minister, Arun Jaitley, in this regard.