New Delhi, Feb. 6: Stung by protests over Delhi?s decision to slash the North Eastern Council?s budget, the department for development of the northeastern region (Doner) has rushed in for damage control. Doner has apprised the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) about the likely consequences.
Union minister for Doner C.P. Thakur said the PMO has been informed about the budget allocation. ?The matter has been taken up with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and he has been apprised about the possible fallout. The matter assumes seriousness in view of the sharp reactions from northeastern states,? he said.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his Tripura and Mizoram counterparts Manik Sarkar and Zoramthanga respectively, have also written to the Prime Minister seeking restoration of the earlier outlay of Rs 750 crore for the NEC that was recommended by the Planning Commission.
Though he did not deny that availability of funds is always an ?advantage?, Thakur, however, claimed that the current allocation would not hamper development work in the region.
?The region has a definite capacity to absorb funds. Speed is of the essence in the completion of projects but proper utilisation of funds is equally important,? Thakur said, adding that emphasis would continue to be on early completion of projects.
The interim budget for 2004-05, presented two days ago, had earmarked Rs 1,192.70 crore, which registers an increase over the previous year?s Rs 1,027.58 crore. The allotment for the NEC was Rs 445 crore.
Union minister of state Tapan Sikdar said ?sufficient? funds are available with the non-lapsable pool.
?Whenever Doner feels that there is a need for more funds, the Planning Commission can always be approached. As such, the assumptions that projects would come to a halt or development work suffer are misconceptions,? Sikdar added.
But Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang also waded into the fray, targeting the BJP-led government. Joining in the chorus with other leaders of the region, he protested the Union finance ministry?s decision to prune the NEC budget by nearly Rs 420 crore, our Shillong correspondent adds.
Lapang, who is chairman of the North Eastern Congress Co-ordination Committee (NECCC), said he would convene a meeting of the panel in the first week of March to discuss the fallout of the Centre?s decision.