NEW DELHI, April 17 ? The north-eastern States have so far been released Rs 1,346.72 crore from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources, Minister for the Department of the Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), Arun Shourie, has disclosed.
The Non-Lapsable Pool of Resources focuses on taking up appropriate projects, which would reduce the gaps in Basic Minimum Services and Infrastructure in the State in the region, the minister said. Both physical and social infrastructure sectors such as irrigation and flood control, power, roads and bridges, education, health, water supply and sanitation are considered for providing support under the Central Pool, he added.
In a bid to ally the feeling of neglect prevailing among the States, the Minister said the centre has been contributing the lion?s share in the State?s annual plan. The contribution from the State?s own resources in respect of the State Governments of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura to the annual plan 2001-2002, was negative.
For instance, in Assam?s annual plan for 2001-2002 fixed at Rs 1,710 crore, the Central assistance allocation was Rs 1,732.29 crore. The same was the story in case of States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.