Gogoi seeks white paper from DoNER on release of funds

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 7: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today asked the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to come out with a white paper on release of funds to the North Eastern States and the non-submission of utilisation certificates by the States.

Gogoi said DoNER minister Dr Jitendra Singh must avoid "double-speak" by asking the NE States to expedite fund utilisation and submit the UCs on time on one hand and blaming the Fince ministry for non-release of Rs 900 crore to DoNER on the other.

"DoNER has been created exclusively for the development of the Northeast region. But the very purpose has been defeated as fund flow from DoNER has slowed down during the last two fiscals," he said.

Gogoi pointed out that the percentage of utilisation of Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) has been a whopping 83.37 per cent (1998-99 to 2015-16). Of the Rs 2629.50 crore released under NLCPR, the State Government has submitted Utilisation Certificates amounting to Rs 2192.40 crore. Of the 619 sanctioned projects, 373 have been completed and 246 are ongoing. Under NEC funded 66 numbers of schemes, Rs 41,196.90 lakh has been released and UCs amounting to Rs 30814.72 lakh submitted as on September 2015. Gogoi said the slowing down of fund flow from DoNER coupled with the change in funding pattern and the withdrawal of Special Category Status by the present dispensation at the Centre have adversely affected the pace of development in the region as a whole.