New Delhi, June 4: The Centre has ordered a review of all ongoing projects funded by it in the Northeast.
The exercise has been undertaken to bring a greater degree of accountability besides ensuring timely completion of the schemes.
The Union minister for department for Development of North Eastern Region (Doner) and small-scale industries C.P. Thakur has been given the task to review the projects.
?The entire pattern of funds flow to the region and the funding of projects can be made more efficient with a bit of inspection and by rectifying the existing loopholes. While some ministries have been performing quite well, others have lagged behind and displayed a lethargic attitude with regard to allotment of schemes in the region,? Thakur said.
A crucial review meeting on Central projects is scheduled for tomorrow in Guwahati. The Union minister is also expected to participate in it. He is slated to visit Guwahati on Thursday and Friday.
Thakur said a report would soon be prepared and submitted to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It would be followed by the ?necessary? corrective steps.
All Central ministries, barring a few (like external affairs and defence), are required to spend 10 per cent of their annual budgets in the Northeast. However, according to a report recently submitted by a Parliamentary Committee, ?Central ministries/departments have only been able to spend in the range of six per cent to seven per cent of the earmarked 10 per cent of their gross budgetary support.?
Thakur said, ?The reasons for this low investment vary with every ministry and that is what we are precisely trying to find out?.
Most officials in the ministries argue that the low investment is because the states fail to submit project reports and utilisation certificates on time.