Allocation for North East


15:10 IST
LOK SABHA

The Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri B.K. Handique has said that all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, except a few specifically exempted ones earmark 10% of their annual budget, less allocation for externally aided schemes and local or event specific schemes/projects for expenditure in the North East Region. Since 1998-99, the unutilized portion of the funds earmarked by the non-exempted Ministries/Departments is surrendered at the close of each financial year in the Non-Lapsable Pool of Resources, which is being maintained on a proforma basis.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, the broad reasons for under utilization as reported by the Ministries/Departments are absence of proposals and utilization of certificates from State Governments. Each year, funds are allocated from this Pool for the Plan Scheme, Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), implemented in the North Eastern States for various development projects by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The allocation under the NLCPR Scheme from the Pool is done based on annual requirements and the absorption capacity of the NE Region and there is no under utilization of funds under this Scheme.