DPR sent not technically sound: Aiyar

New Delhi, July 10: Minister for Development of North East Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar was today critical of the Detail Project Reports (DPRs) being sent by the state governments of the North East states saying that most of them were technically unacceptable.

''DoNER has noticed serious constrains with the project reports being submitted by the state governments which are technically unsound. There also exist a variation of as much as 20 per cent between the estimated cost and actual cost,'' said Mr Aiyar.

DoNER has been requesting the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission for enhancement of the Annual Plan outlays for the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources for Development of North Eastern Region (NLCPR) and North Eastern Council (NEC), essentially for completion of old projects. However, the minister was irked by the long delays in the projects and the non-utilisation of the funds being disbursed to the states.

''We can approach the Ministry of Finance only if the money with the state government is spent. A case for enhanced funds for NLCPR can be made in any given finacial year after we have spent the money,'' added Mr Aiyar.

The minister said his department was looking at ways to address this isuue by circulating a list of consultants who are competent to make the DPRs and educational institutes like the local engineering colleges to vouch for the DPRs prepared.

''We have set up a video conferencing system with the concerned counterparts in the various states and insist that the states bring their DPRs to us so that a discussion on the reports can take place,'' said Mr Aiyar.

UNI