NEW DELHI, Feb 24 � The north-eastern States might be clamouring for release of additional funds, but have fallen short of submitting utilisation certificates (UCs) of allotted funds.
In the financial year 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, the NE States received Rs 728 crore and Rs 672 crore, but submitted UCs only for Rs 633 crore and Rs 549 crore respectively. The funds were released from Non-Lapsable Pool of Central Resources (NLCPR) and Bodoland package.
The North Eastern Council Secretariat takes follow-up action with the concerned State governments to expedite early submission of UCs.
In a Rajya Sabha reply, Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Bijoy Krishna Handique said that the main reasons for delay in utilisation of funds by the State governments, as stated by them in case of NLCPR and BTC Schemes, include the short working season due to heavy and prolonged rainy season in the north-eastern region and limitation of technical and professional expertise.
The minister said to expedite the utilisation of funds by the State governments, the release of funds are split in three instalments of 40 per cent, 40 per cent and 20 per cent, the time for utilisation of funds by the State governments have been increased from nine months to 12 months and provisions have been made in the NLCPR guidelines for transfer of funds by the State governments to the implementing agencies within 15 days of its release.
The DoNER has released Rs 1,455 crore for the development schemes in the north-eastern region through the Budget of the Ministry.
