Gogoi slams Centre for withholding funds

NDA taking credit for schemes UPA sanctioned for Assam: CM

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 4: Severely criticizing Union Minister for Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said Gadkari’s announcement of a Rs 8,000 crore package for Assam is related to projects sanctioned by the previous UPA government at the Centre and the present rendra Modi government has not approved any new projects or schemes for Assam so far.

Addressing a press conference here, Gogoi said, “Many Central ministers are visiting Assam and other Northeastern states very frequently and making grandiose promises. But nothing concrete is materializing on the ground,” adding, “Gadkari announced and took credit of only those projects which were sanctioned by the previous UPA government.”

“Till date, the Central government hasn’t given us the budgetary allocations. We don’t know how much funds we will get under which heads. We are facing difficulties in our work. The Central government has also stopped releasing incentives under the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP). We are still not sure whether the policy has been suspended or withdrawn by the Government of India,” adding, “No clear cut policy has been taken by the Central government in this regard and that’s why the entire Northeastern region is now suffering.”

The Chief Minister further said, “As most of the Northeastern states have non-BJP governments, the BJP-led government at the Centre is trying to capture power in the region.”

Asked if the visits of Central ministers to the NE region are meaningless, Gogoi said, “I will not term it meaningless. If I get money, it will be meaningful.”

On Gadkari’s statement that he created toll gates in Maharashtra and earned revenue for development, Gogoi said, “This is possible in Maharashtra, Gujarat or Delhi. The toll gate concept is not viable in Assam or other Northeastern states. We are a poor state,” adding, “The Koliabhomora and Raha toll gates in Assam have already been closed. The Gangadhar toll gate will also be shut soon.”

The Chief Minister accused the Centre of promoting big corporates by making schemes for their profit. He also slammed Gadkari for his proposal that State government should acquire land for development of road projects in Assam by Central agencies.