SHILLONG, Nov 14 - Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporation, Arun Ram Meghwal said today that the North Eastern Council (NEC) and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) budget would be increased soon.
The present annual budget of the NEC is Rs 800 crore. The NEC has been urging the Central Government for a budget hike to about Rs 2,000 crore. It says unless the budget is increased some vital projects can�t be taken up in the region.
�We will discuss with the Finance Ministry and hopefully increase the budget for NEC to implement projects in the infrastructure sector like roads and also under Digital India,� Meghwal said after chairing a review meet of NEC here.
He informed that NEC has submitted a memorandum for increase in budget allocation, especially to implement some of the infrastructure projects in the region. The Minister added, the NEC can send supplementary demands for any unfinished projects and this would be taken up in the Parliament which begins tomorrow.
�I can assure you that during supplementary demands or the next budget, NEC and DoNER�s fund allocation would be increased. There is no dearth of fund. The PM is keen to develop the region,� he said.
The Union Minister said all road projects must be reviewed every quarter to oversee proper implementation of the budget allocated. He said, apart from organisations like Border Road Organisation taking up projects in the region, road projects under the Bharatmala would be undertaken.
Stressing on more focus on tourism sector, he said, the region has immense potential to develop the sector for its overall development.
�We are also urging the States to go for Optical Fibre Cables and augmentation of towers under the Digital India programme. Unless these are developed we cannot fulfill the objectives of the Direct Benefit Transfer to the people under various schemes being implemented in the region,� the Union Minister said.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of demonetisation, the Minister appealed to the public �not to worry or panic� about the Government decision. �The honest people should not worry, but dishonest people need to be worried.�
Terming the demonetisation programme as �good and beneficial� for the people as it would �curb black and fake money, terrorism and corruption,� the Union Minister said, the Government is constantly monitoring the day-to-day situation.
