GUWAHATI, Feb 2 ? The Centre has released funds for several prestigious projects in Assam from its non-lapsable pool of resources. The money has been released recently following sustained pressure from the State Government and the personal initiative of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Minister of State for Planning and Development, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced today.
Sarma, who was addressing mediapersons here today, said that over Rs 100 crore has already been made available by the Centre while the State Government is trying to procure some more funds. He rubbished allegations that the State Government was incapable of submitting proper project proposals. Among the projects, for which the funds have been made available is the construction of the multistoried secretariat building at the Dispur Capital Campus. The project has been in limbo for some time due to unavailability of sufficient funds. The Assam Government has already spent some Rs 20 crore on the Rs 78 crore project. The Centre will make available Rs 55 crore for the project by March, Sarma said.
According to Sarma, Rs 28 crore has been given for the renovation of the 220 KV BTPS Agia-Sarwajai power line. It is expected to solve the problems in power supply in lower Assam. Rs 20 crore has been granted for the development of the Assam Medical College at Dibrugarh under project HOPE, Sarma said. It will help build new buildings and procure new equipment which can transform the institution, he said. Besides these, Rs 13.1 crore has been made available for the Greater Silchar Water Supply Scheme while Rs 4.89 crore has been given for the Kamakhya Temple development. The money for the Kamakhya Temple, Sarma explained, will be used to build footpaths, public conveniences, view points, multi-storied car park, etc. Funds have also been given for the Kokrajhar university campus (Rs 5 crore) and the Sankardev Nethralaya (1.5 crore), Sarma announced. He said that Rs 10.31 crore for the Maibong rural hospital is about to be sanctioned soon.
The Minister said that funds for the above-mentioned projects were sanctioned following the personal interest taken by the Chief Minister who met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee twice since December and followed it up with three letters. The projects were pending with the Centre till December, Sarma said. ?It proves that there was no problem in preparing the projects as alleged by some people?, the junior Minister claimed. Sarma said that the State Government will continue with the process of securing more funds from the Centre for the pending projects. Two officials of the State Government will camp in New Delhi till March 31 to ensure more grants. Sarma said that a Rs-19 crore project for roads in North Cachar Hills is being processed. He hoped that by the end of this financial year, the State Government will be able to get more Central funds under the non-lapsable account than last year. During 2001-02, the State had got Rs 150 crore worth of projects cleared, he said. He hoped that by March, Assam will get Rs 70 to 80 crore more from the Centre.
The Minister said that the Assam Government is trying to streamline its functioning in the sphere of new projects. Thus, departments have been instructed to send their proposals by January 27 while the State Government will submit its project proposals for the next financial year to the Centre by February 6. He said that current money spending has improved to 89 per cent in recent months from around 67 per cent earlier. Among the projects being prepared for the next year is a Rs 100 crore one to build 150 RCC bridges, replacing the wooden structures, all over the State. Another Rs 50 crore is being sought for power sector improvement in the State, Sarma said. Other notable projects that will be submitted before the Centre are schemes for water supply in Mangaldoi, Digboi and Dhubri (Rs 40 crore), Char area development (Rs 20 crore), improvement of the Dibru-Saikhowa national park (Rs 7 crore), Diphu Stadium (Rs 4 crore), Widening of the Maligaon Railway overbridge (Rs 15 crore) and improvement of the Brahmaputra water front from Kamakhya to Governor House in Guwahati (Rs 25 crore).