Agartala, Mar 16 (IANS): The central government is likely to convene a meeting of chief ministers April 16 to discuss the functioning of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), a top Tripura official said here Friday.

Many non-Congress ruled states in the country have opposed the NCTC alleging that in its present form it amounts to infringement of their powers.

"The union government would convene a meeting of chief ministers of the states likely on April 16 to discuss the policy matters of setting up the NCTC," Tripura chief secretary S.K. Panda told reporters.

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh held a meeting of chief secretaries and directors general and inspectors general of Police of states and union territories Monday in New Delhi and discussed the setting up of the NCTC.

"Pending final decision on the NCTC at the proposed meeting of chief ministers, the operation of NCTC would be suspended," Panda said quoting Singh.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in a letter to the prime minister strongly opposed the proposed counter-terror intelligence centre under the National Security Guard (NSG) and demanded a meeting of chief ministers.

"Without discussing and taking the opinion of state governments, the setting up of such an anti-insurgency hub is against the federal structure of the Indian constitution," Sarkar told reporters here.