GUWAHATI: Assam may have flattened the Covid-19 graph but its economy is not in the pink of health.Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , who also looks after finance, on Monday told the media here that the state treasury cannot be kept open from June without “massive infusion of funds” and that too from outside the state’s “predictable resources.”“May is a difficult month for us and I don’t know how the treasury will operate. Still, we will be able to pay the salaries, but only after May 7 or 8,” he said, adding that things will be difficult in June.He further said, “In June, we would need massive infusion of funds from outside the state’s predictable resources. If we are dependent only on our predictable resources, it will be difficult for us to reopen the treasury in June. If no assistance comes from outside the predictable resources, we have to walk the extra mile.”“Yesterday, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman called me and assured that the Centre will stand by the state government and although she does not have the money, she would try to fulfill her obligations towards the state government even at the cost of borrowings,” Sarma said.He added that the state government will announce some economic measures by this weekend. “If we want to raise taxes, we have to go to the GST council. If we impose taxes, the common people, who are already facing sufferings, will face further hardships. We have to do a balancing act.”The minister said, “As a state, we can hike taxes only on petrol, diesel and liquor. Probably at some point of time, the state may raise tax on petrol and diesel, provided the prices in the international market go down so that the consumers are not affected.”Talking about the budgetary commitments, Sarma said, “I don’t want to be a pessimist. In spite of the crisis, as a finance minister it is my duty to keep the budgetary commitments intact…we may not able to start in April but may be from August.”In a big relief to the state, Sarma later in the evening informed that the state has got Rs 1441.48 crore as it’s the installment of share of central tax. He tweeted, “Despite having little by way of tax revenues, Hon PM Sri@narendramodi & FM Smt@nsitharaman have ensured disbursal of share of central taxes to states. Assam also got 1st instalment of devolution to the tune of Rs 1441.48 cr which is a big relief at this hour. My gratitude.”