NER states have not utilised BADP funds

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Six in eight North Eastern Region (NER) states have not spent any amount on the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), set up for the development and welfare of people in border areas, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar said in a written reply, the BADP, a hundred per cent Centrally-sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs through the state governments, has been implemented in all the community development blocks of the country, having a land border with neighbouring countries.

According to the data provided by the government, the six states with zero expenditure on the BADP, were Arunachal Pradesh which had been allocated Rs 4498 lakh, Asom Rs 2338.34 lakh, Meghalaya Rs 1313.36 lakh, Mizoram Rs 2262 lakh, Sikkim Rs 1566.04 lakh and Tripura Rs 2678.48 lakh.

The total allocation of funds made towards the BADP during 2006-07 was to the tune of Rs 17,483.22 lakh while the expenditure was only Rs 535.88 lakh.

During 2005-06, the allocation was Rs 7379.37 lakh with the expenditure of only Rs 5522.11 lakh.

UNI