Non-Utilization of NEC (North Eastern Council) Funds

GUWAHATI: It's because of lethargy on the part of departments and their officials that Assam has lost many NEC (North Eastern Council) schemes and projects.

The NEC, as a matter of course, does not allow overruns when schemes/projects are not completed within their stipulated three-year time. The implementing departments concerned and their officials in Assam have been caught on the wrong foot for not completing projects and schemes within the stipulated three years. This is despite the fact that the NEC kept pouring in funds for the schemes and projects in Assam which stand closed now.

The fish farm at Bherbheri in Kokrajhar is one among such closed North Eastern Council schemes. The NEC released Rs 34 lakh for the fish farm that was started in 2013. Now the scheme stands closed. The schemes for beel development for sustainable livelihood which were started at various places in 2013 are no different. Despite the release of Rs 130 lakh on time, the schemes have not been completed within three years. Now all such schemes stand closed. An employable skill development scheme was started in 14 districts in 2014 with the release of Rs 69 lakh. Now the scheme stands closed due to non-completion in time.

The other schemes and projects which have met the same fate are the scheme for organizing Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations sanctioned in 2004, the project profile for tourism infrastructure in the BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District) areas, the Eco-tourism-cum-Botanical Garden at Jokai in Dibrugarh sanctioned in 2010, and the seminar hall construction of Darrang College started in 2012.

Strangely enough, the Yatrinivas-cum-NEC Guest House at Paltan Bazar in Guwahati involving Rs 10 crore was completed. However, for reasons best known to it, the State government handed it over to a private party after completion. And for that reason, the NEC has shown that project as "closed".

According to sources, most of the scheme/project implementing departments in Assam failed to submit their fund-utilization certificates to the NEC, and that led to the closure of the schemes/projects. Sources also say that it's a trying time for the NEC with the Centre being too stingy in releasing funds. The NEC was formed under the erstwhile Planning Commission of India. In the absence of the Commission now, many even apprehend that the Centre may disband the NEC for its failure to serve the very purpose for which it was formed.

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