DEPARTMENT OF NORTH-EASTERN REGION

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• Continued efforts of the Government to remove impediments to lasting peace in the North-East with an improved security scenario have raised hopes for faster economic development of the Region. The creation of a dedicated Department of Development of North-Eastern Region shows the Government of India’s commitment to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of the Region. The Department of North-Eastern Region (DONER) was created in the first week of September 2001 by an amendment to Government of India Allocation of Business Rules.

• The work allocation to the Department includes matters related to the planning, execution and monitoring of developmental schemes and projects of the North Eastern Region including those in the sectors of power, irrigation, roads and communications.

• Funds to the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) accrue from the unspent balance of the 10 per cent Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) which each Ministry/Departments of Government of India is mandated to spend in the North-Eastern Region. Project-specific support is provided from this fund for development of infrastructure in the North-East.

• Around 546 projects have been extended support under the NLCPR since its inception in 1998-99. The total NLCPR approved support for these projects is Rs.3103 crore. As of March 31, 2003, for 269 projects NLCPR commitments have been fully met. Already, Rs.1868 crore has been released against these projects leaving a liability of Rs.1234.94 crore.

• An inter-departmental committee scrutinizes the priority projects submitted by the State governments and identifies/selects proposals and shortlists them for likely funding under NLCPR. The final funding (sanctions) depends on techno-economic appraisal of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

• Drinking water supply and power projects have been the focus areas in 2002-03. For 2003-2004, completing ongoing projects and strengthening of roads by converting all semi-permanent bridges (SPT) into permanent RCC bridges are focus areas.

• Projects requiring recurring expenditure like setting up new institutions are not encouraged in view of the poor financial condition of the NER States to meet the recurring liability. They also require elaborate manpower planning. Therefore, the strategy has been to strengthen and improve or upgrade the quality of the existing institutions rather than to set up new institutions.

• To address the problem of regional imbalance within the States the respective Governments have been asked to submit more proposals from the Scheduled Areas of North-East.. With attention being provided to backward areas within the North-Eastern Region, projects worth Rs. 147.44 crore have been sanctioned to Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) Areas. The Karbi-Anglong Autonomous Council and North Cachar Hill Autonomous Council have been sanctioned projects worth Rs.18.37 crore and Rs. 7.70 crore respectively.(PIB Features)