GUWAHATI, July 1 � The State government has accused the NDA government at the Centre of re-packaging old schemes announced by the previous UPA government, even while slashing Central funding for existing projects.
Speaking to reporters here today, State government spokesperson Pradyut Bordoloi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s call for a second Green Revolution in Eastern India including Assam is not a new proposal but something which was announced by the previous UPA regime back in 2008-09.
�We are glad that Modi has talked about having a Green Revolution in Eastern India and Assam. But the reality is that in 2008-09 the then UPA government had already announced a Second Green Revolution. Modi is only repeating the same thing,� Bordoloi said.
He added that UPA had started six flagship programmes under this with 100 per cent Central funding pattern. The six programmes are Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Mission for Oil Seeds and Oil Palm, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Rainfed Area Development, and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
�The UPA regime had announced funding pattern of 100 per cent for these schemes. Now this year the funding pattern has been changed to 50-50 for the flagship programmes even as Modi is talking about Green Revolution. If the funding pattern is changed, how can there be a Green Revolution?� Bordoloi asked.
Regarding the announcement of major investments in roads and highways made by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari here yesterday for the region, Bordoloi said, �Gadkari spoke about 10 national highway packages and said that work has started for them. The reality is that those packages were announced by the UPA regime in March 23, 2014 and the projects were sanctioned then.�
He added, �The State PWD made the DPRs for these projects. The Centre accepted them and now is saying that they are its own DPR� But work has started in none of the places mentioned by Gadkari.�
Asked about submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) by the State government, Bordoloi said Dispur has been giving UCs to New Delhi.
�Maybe there are some backlogs. But which State government does not have backlogs? Gujarat has not given UCs for Rs 22,000 crore of Central funds. But funds for Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh have not been stopped,� he said.
Bordoloi, however, admitted that in some schemes, like in health sector, the Centre is continuing with the 90-10 pattern of funding.
