No Request from Dispur for BTC Funds Release as of Dec 12: DoNER

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: A question, raised by an MP in the Rajya Sabha in the ongoing Union Budget session, has exposed the failure of the Government of Assam to submit a formal request to the Government of India to release funds to BTC. Conscious citizens of BTR have raised questions on the lapses of the Government of Assam and its insincerity for the development of BTC.

Sources from a reliable source said that the Union Government had sanctioned Rs 62.79 crore for three projects under the special package of the BTR Accord, 2020 with an additional amount of Rs 658.20 crore allocated for eleven more projects at various approval stages. However, despite the sanction, no funds have been released due to the failure of the Assam Government to submit a formal request to the Government of India for the release of funds to BTC.

In response to a parliamentary query raised by Rajya Sabha MP Rwngwra Narzary, the Union Minister of State for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Sukanta Majumdar clarified that the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed on January 27 committed Rs 750 crore from the Central Government, matched by an equal contribution from the Government of Assam, a total amount of Rs 1,500 crore for the development of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) over three years. Dr Majumdar stated that DoNER had so far received project proposals worth Rs 720.99 crore from the BTC. However, as of December 12, 2024, no funds have been released due to the pending request submission by the Assam Government.

The delay has sparked concerns over the timely execution of developmental initiatives promised under the Bodo Peace Accord, which aimed to foster growth and stability in BTR. Local representatives and stakeholders have urged the Government of Assam to expedite the process to ensure the benefits to the region from the accord without further delays.

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