Fund cut irks CM, again

Our Staff Reporter

Dispur, August 3: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi expressed grave displeasure over the non-release of funds for various development projects by the Ministry of DoNER.

In a statement here today, Gogoi said that the non-release of funds by the DoNER ministry has acted as a spanner in the wheels of development. Though DoNER has been created exclusively for the development of the NE region, the present Central Government’s callous attitude over non-release of requisite funds has exposed its lack of genuineness and concern for the development of Assam, he complained Expressing indigtion over DoNER’s failure to release long overdue funds to Assam, Gogoi said that the Northeast has been deprived of its legitimate rights during the Modi-led NDA regime. “The non-release of funds by DoNER has slowed down rural development, employment generation, health, education, commerce and industries and on other fronts,” Gogoi said adding, that Union Home Minister Rajth Singh did not pay any heed to the pleas of the State government for release of funds despite a high level meeting with him.

Gogoi said though the DoNER had released Rs 63.37 crore for the year 2014-15 up to April-July, it has released only Rs 37.2 crore for the current fincial year up to April-July.

Citing another instance over delay in release of fund, Gogoi said the Central Government has released only Rs 2208.11 crore under Central Assistance to State Plan (CASP) for the current fincial year up to April-July as against Rs 4179.86 crore for the previous fincial year of the same corresponding period.

Gogoi said the Central Ministers who are making a beeline to the State have been misleading the people over the release of ‘sufficient’ funds to the State. The Chief Minister said though the Central Government has made a good move to allocate Rs 10,000 crore to the Ministry of DoNER for development of the North East Region, the moot question that remains will it ever see the light of the day against the backdrop of the present dispensation at the Centre’s growing lackadaisical attitude.

Regarding, the problems of flood and erosion in the State, the Chief Minister said that his government has been taking up a host of measures to control the twin problems, out of its own resources notwithstanding the fact that the Central Government is yet to release the funds. Gogoi said that the Central Government is yet to release a whopping Rs 25,707.97 lakh earmarked by the 11th Fince Commission against 100 schemes despite the release of its share of funds by the State Government. Moreover, the Central Government is yet to release Rs 101660.39 lakh earmarked by the 12th Fince Commission against 41 schemes.