Abolish DONER Ministry : Admin. Reforms Commission says

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) has recommended abolishing of the Ministry for Development of Northeastern Region (DONER) and entrusting its responsibility to the Union Home Ministry and dispensing with the system of Zonal Councils.

The ARC in its seventh report which was submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here this evening, has stressed the need for putting in place a comprehensive framework to promote the region as a preferred destination for investment and setting up of a Transport Development Fund to finance construction of important road corridors.

It calls for amendment in the Sixth Schedule of Constitution to enable the Autonomous Councils to benefit from the recommendations of the state Finance Commissions and State Elections Commissions.

Speaking to reporters here after submitting the report to the Prime Minister, ARC Chairman Veerappa Moily said the government was ''very keen'' to implement the recommendations of the six reports submitted earlier by the Commission.

Outlining the salient features of the 234-page report 'Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution : Friction to Fusion', focussing mainly on tackling Left Wing Extremism, Mr Moily said the eighth report which is on the issue of terrorism, would be released in the first week of April, the ninth report by April-end and 10th report in May.

The report says that responsibility of sanctioning funds from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) should be entrusted with the NEC.

''The Ministry of DONER may be abolished and the responsbility for the development of the region restored to the Ministry of Home Affairs,'' it said.

A Transport Development Fund should be set up to finance construction of important road corridors, rail connectivity be improved on a priority basis and the system of Zonal Councils be dispensed with.

It says the Law Ministry should initiatite a dialogue with the Bench and the Bar of the higher judiciary to explore ways and means of bringing 'greater finality' to the decisions of the quasi-judicial authorities.

It said the agenda of the National Integration Council (NIC) should be diversified and State Integration Councils (SICs) be constituted to take stock of state-level conflict situations having suitable linkages with the NIC.

It also recommended District-level Integration Councils (DICs) for districts with a history of violent conflicts.

UNI RB MSJ RK2155