NEW DELHI, Sept 17 - In the face of allegations of massive leakage of Central funds in the Northeast, the Centre has in a major initiative launched a new hi-tech online �e-portal� for submission, surveillance and follow-up of development projects relating to Northeast under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resource (NLCPR).
DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said his Ministry is one of the first Central ministries to have opted for a hi-tech method of submission of projects and their follow-up. He said that this will also avoid complaints regarding delays or extraneous considerations, including corruption.
There are allegations of misappropriation of funds, said Dr Singh, and added that the portal launched by DoNER Ministry will also help surveillance on financial, physical and visual progress for timely completion of projects.
The previous UPA regime had admitted about siphoning of Central funds, including NLCPR. In three years, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has found irregularities in three of the five cases of alleged corruption. However, the extent of leakage could not be determined. According to the CVC, they have dealt with a total of five cases of alleged corruption, pertaining to the Ministry of DoNER during 2007-2009, added the Minister.
This has a special relevance for the DoNER Ministry because this is a region-based Ministry and the projects are submitted by the eight different States of the region.
Dr Singh said, the DoNER Ministry is unique in the sense that it is the only Ministry in Government of India which is region-based and has stakes with other ministries. To this extent, the new portal will also help in keeping track of various stages of project activities among different ministries, including Planning Department of northeastern State Governments and the line ministries of the Government of India. In order to overcome delays, the portal will be programmed to send automatic computerised reminders to the State Governments and others concerned, he informed.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang called on Dr Singh here today and discussed various issues related to the development of the State, as well as the current political scenario in Nagaland.
