PM assures restoration of Central funds to proposed level for NE

New Delhi, Aug 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured a delegation of North East MPs Forum the Centre's contribution to all centrally-sponsored projects will be restored to its proposed level of 90 per cent.

Talking to UNI Forum General Secretary Arun Sarma said the Prime Minister has also agreed to a proposal for upgrading the Guwahati Airport, not only as an international airport but as a business hub for the entire northeast region.

He said the delegation stressed the need for establishing an airport at Arunachal Pradesh in view of its strategic importance to which the Prime Minister assured he will take up the matter with the Civil Aviation Minister.

He said the delegation explained how the Non Lapsable Central Pool Resources (NLCPR) fund is being diverted through the Department for the Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) for the projects and programmes of North Eastern Council (NEC), PM's projects and Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC).

He said the NEC and BAC receive their funds from the the Union Home Ministry, but of late DONER is funding their projects.

He said the delegation also stressed the need for converting DONER into a full fledged ministry to look after the interest of the region.

He said the NLCPR was formed as a pool out of the unspent money of various ministries and departments, but in the event of no unutilised funds the NLCPR is left with no resources and since DONER depends upon this money various developmental projects have to be compromised.

Dr Sarma said they have also requested the Prime Minister to take up the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the first phase itself in all the districts of the region or otherwise it would be delayed by at least another five years.

Dr Singh has assured them to review the matter, he added.

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