Shillong, June 11 (Reporter) The Union government on Monday released additional central taxes to the state, amounting to over Rs 1000 crore, for which Chief Minister Conrad Sangma expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “We express our gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, GoI, for releasing an additional installment of the share of central taxes of INR 536 crores to Meghalaya and a total of Rs 1072.90 crore for the month of June," said the Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio. “This additional money will enable the State to accelerate the ongoing development projects,” he said. “The government has released two installments of the devolution of taxes, which were meant for different states. So every month we normally get one installment, but the Government of India has in one way given a bonus to every state by releasing two installments. So this will not be taken away from the future installments, but these are basically a bonus and double benefit has been given,” Sangma said. Stating that the release of two installments of the devolution of taxes was a “very significant” step by the new government at the Centre, the Chief Minister said, “This is a great gesture by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister and a great way to start the new government, and once again, I would like to thank the Government of India for releasing over Rs 1000 crores in terms of the devolution of taxes, which will definitely help the state in many developmental as well as social programs that we have...////...