DoNER Forecloses Rs 26.88 Cr Worth NESIDS-OTRI Projects in Assam

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: As a result of incomplete works in Assam under the Northeast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme—Other Than Road Infrastructure (NESIDS-OTRI), five projects costing Rs 26.88 crore are being foreclosed one after another by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).

Recently, DoNER foreclosed five projects in Assam on the recommendation of the state-level empowered committee (SLEC). Due to the foreclosure of the projects, Assam has to refund an amount of Rs 7.2 crore to the central government against four projects. As for the fifth project, DoNER has not demanded a refund from the state government.

The projects being foreclosed: Metalling and blacktopping of Gunjung Maibang Road from 17th to 28.78 km (in Dima Hasao district), costing Rs. 6.40 Cr; metalling & blacktopping of Assalu to Diduki Road including WBM (length 18 km) under Mahur Road Division, costing Rs. 6.39 crore; the Belsiri Lift Irrigation Scheme worth Rs. 2.17 crore; construction of Mohmora Ali with an RCC bridge in the Sivasagar district at a cost of Rs. 7.71 crore; and construction of an RCC bridge over River Doomdooma on old AT Road costing Rs. 4.21 crore.

This was revealed in an office memorandum (O.M.) issued by DoNER on June 18, 2025. According to the O.M., the project was sanctioned on September 28, 2007, for an approved cost of Rs. 2.17 crore. The amount released towards the project is Rs. 0.68 crore. Earlier, the project was recommended for foreclosure on an as-is-where-is basis during the 9th Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee (EIMC) meeting of NESIDS in 2018 due to land acquisition issues and bank erosion of the Belsiri River.

The project has been recommended for foreclosure on an as-is, where-is basis by SLEC of Assam. The project has been inspected by M. Kalita, Superintending Engineer (Civil) Sector, NEC, on February 6, 2025, and he has reported a lowest outcome score of 1. All the machinery, including the pumps and intake pipes and transformers lying idle for so many years, may not be in workable condition. Looking at the present status of the project with the partially done work from more than 12 years ago, the revival of the work does not appear to be feasible or economically viable, the O.M. stated.

After detailed deliberation in the 57th meeting of the EIMC, the foreclosure of the Belsiri Lift Irrigation Scheme project on a full refund basis was recommended. The other projects were also recommended for foreclosure for different reasons, mainly non-completion on time.

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