DoNER to scrutinise projects through effective monitoring

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) To ensure that projects funded by Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) are implemented by the state governments in time, the Ministry for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said it would lay emphasis on 'eEffective monitoring'.

Stating that the monitoring is the key to successful utilisation of resources DoNER said it has been focusing on close monitoring and evaluation of projects being implemented in the NE region from NLCPR funds of the Ministry.

''It is a well recognised fact that the success of the projects largely depend on the effective results percolating to intended beneficiaries. In order to ensure this, the Ministry has evolved a comprehensive system of Monitoring and Evaluation of the implementation of NLCPR projects,'' said a statement.

The North Eastern Region (NER) has all along been depended on central funding for development works. All the States in the NER are Special Category States. Their Annual Plans are financed on the basis of 90 per cent Grant and 10 per cent Loan.

In 1998, the Centre had set up a Central Pool of Resources as the NLCPR, from the unspent balance of the 10 per cent provisioning in the budget by Central Ministries/Departments for the NER.

DoNER sanctions infrastructure development projects for the NE States out of the allocation made through normal budgetary route from NLCPR.

DoNER today said that all projects of the Ministry are continuously monitored through periodical progress reports received from the State Governments depicting both the financial and physical progress of the projects and also through review meetings and inspections by officers of the Ministry.

The procedure adopted for the release of funds to the States for various projects stipulates conditions which ensure that the State Governments furnish Utilisation Certificates and other documents to the effect that the funds have been utilised for the purpose for which these were sanctioned.

The broad objective of the NLCPR scheme is to ensure speedy development of infrastructure in the NER by increasing the flow of budgetary financing for new infrastructure projects/schemes in the region.

Both economic and social infrastructure sectors such as Power, Roads and Bridges, Education, Health, Water Supply and Sports are considered for support under the Central Pool.

Funds from the Central Pool can be released for State sector as well as Central Sector projects/schemes.

However, the funds available under this Pool are not meant to supplement the normal Plan programmes either of the State Governments or Union Government or Union Ministries/Departments/Agencies.

As on December 31, 2006, eight hundred twenty seven (827) projects have been taken up for implementation with funding from the NLCPR. The total approved cost of these projects is Rs 5,823.64 crore.

The Planning and Development Department of each State, which is the nodal Department for NLCPR projects, has also been entrusted with field inspections of the projects through senior officers of the State and submission of inspection notes.

DoNEr said the procedure to facilitate early sanction of projects has been further streamlined.

In this regard the Ministry with the help of NIC has developed software for online monitoring of NLCPR funded projects right from the stage of submission of the priority list by the State Governments to the completion of the projects.

Monthly reviews and regular follow up with the State Governments as well as the line Ministries of Central Government for expeditious submission/examination of DPRs.

In the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of State Governments are being upgraded through the Plan Scheme of Capacity Building by training of officers of the State Governments in preparation of DPRs and implementation of projects.

A list of organizations with requisite skills in DPR preparation has been forwarded to the State Governments for their reference and necessary action, the release added.

UNI