DoNER to set up system to check fund utilisation

GUWAHATI: The Department of Northeast Region is putting a new system for a realistic assessment of resources allocated by different ministries.

DoNER minister Gen (retd) VK Singh who was in Guwahati on Friday said that the allocation of Rs 13,000 crore was notional."These were funds earmarked by various ministers from 10 per cent of the gross budgetary support. We will ask different ministers to declare as how much they have allocated for northeast under NLCPR and accordingly we will make plans and programnes."

It was the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government that created NLCPR.Singh, however, asked northeastern states to work towards generating self revenue. "Funds are always at a premium for any government. The states must go for generating self revenue. The Cen tre can be there for only assistance.It cannot be like states will have zero revenue and all funds will come from the Centre," Singh said after a two-day conference of chief ministers from northeastern states.

He also said respective state PWD departments should partner in to complete the delayed or abandoned roadways projects with the Centre. "In the next 2-3 years, we will have much better connectivity with North East".