Dispur submits only nine UCs in two months worth Rs 25.82 crore

* Assam has 187 pending UCs worth Rs 206.45 crore

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In the last two months of October and November, the Government of Assam submitted only nine UCs (Utilisation Certificates) worth Rs 25.82 crore meant for various development schemes approved by the Ministry of DoNER (Development of North-East Region) across the State.

According to the Ministry's status report on September 30, 2020, the Assam government failed to submit 196 UCs amounting to Rs 232.27 crore since the inception of DoNER way back in September 2001. The report further says that among the eight NE States, Assam has the maximum number of pending UCs. Against this backdrop, the Ministry asked the Assam government to submit the pending UCs at the earliest.

So far, the DoNERMinistry has released Rs 4,708.97 crore against 547 approved schemes. Of these, the State utilized Rs 4,059 crore in 502 schemes. The unspent amount with Assam government is Rs 649.10 crore against 258 other schemes. As on November 30, 2020, the State government has 187 pending UCs worth Rs 206.45 crore.

Meanwhile, sources informed that though the Department had sought the UCs from the project-implementing departments, response from the latter has not been up to the mark.

After completion of a specific work, the executing department submits the bill to the T&D (Transformation & Development Department) which then forwards the bill (with its notes) to the Finance Department for release of the fund. After receiving the fund, the executing department submits the UC to the T&D, which finally sends it to the DoNER Ministry. The T&D is the nodal department for the DoNER schemes.

The DoNER releases funds to the north-eastern States on a yearly basis. While the sharing ratio between the Centre and States with respect to specific schemes is 90:10; in others, the Centre bears the entire cost of such development schemes.

Mentionably, with respect to the development schemes under NESIDS (North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme), the entire funding is borne by the DoNER Ministry.

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