Finance panel team to meet UP officials

A team from the 14th Finance Commission will meet officials of the Uttar Pradesh government Thursday, officials said.

The team, headed by former chairman of the Reserve Bank of India Y P Reddy, would speak to the officials on the financial health of the state, while the UP officials are likely to apprise the visiting team of the needs of the state.

An official told IANS that an exhaustive presentation has been prepared by the finance department and during its deliberations with the finance commission, they would be "justifying the demand for more funding and financial assistance" from the centre.

The team has already met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav late Wednesday.

The team will also meet representatives of trade organizations and some industrialists to understand their problems, the official said.