Centre clears NE projects within 15 days: Shourie

DIBRUGARH, April 21? Union Minister for Disinvestment and Department of North-east Region Arun Shourie today said that all schemes and projects submitted by the north-eastern States are cleared within 15 days, reports PTI. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of commencement of work of the rail-road Bogibeel bridge here, Shourie said that allocation of funds by each ministry for the North-east has been increased by three times. ?What this government has done for the North-east under the leadership of Vajpayee, has not been done in the last 50 years,? Shourie said. Increasing air connectivity by introducing new flights and air taxi services and improvement of border roads are some of the important measures taken by the Centre for the development of the region. He said that under the Tenth Five Year Plan, Rs 500 crore has been allocated for compensation to Jhum cultivators. The Centre has also signed an agreement with China recently to provide hydrological information from Tibet to tackle floods in the region. Shourie urged the State governments to utilise each paise received as Central fund for the benefit of the people.