Unhappy with the recommendations of 13th Finance Commission,West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta decided to call a meeting of Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers to raise the issue of ‘Centre-state relations’ once again.

Reacting to the recommendations placed in the Parliament today,Dasgupta said,despite presentations from different states for devolution of 50 per cent of tax collected by the Central government to the states,nothing was done. The recommendations show that the Finance Commission has devolved only 32 per cent — just 1.5 per cent increase compared to the 12th Finance Commission recommendations. “This falls way behind the state’s demand. States will continue to be deprived. I have decided to call a meeting of all state finance ministers possibly in April and chalk out our next steps,” said Dasgupta.

The 12th Finance Commission had given Rs 57,000 crore while the 13th Finance Commission has provided Rs.1.17 lakh crore for the next five years. Dasgupta,meanwhile,was satisfied with the grants to Panchayat,civic bodies and environment sector. The Commission has also recommended a grant of Rs 253 crore for training of police personnel.

Dasgupta,however,said that the Union government is deciding about the state’s schemes,which will jeopardise the federal concept of the Indian Constitution. “How can a deputy secretary sitting in Delhi understand the need for a road in Purulia? The Centre has entered in this sphere through the back door of the Constitution,” he said.