NEW DELHI, Jan 3 — In a bid to avoid massive diversion developmental funds at least 29 projects in North East Region have been taken up for concurrent audit by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) at the request of Department for Development of North Eastern region (DONER).
In Assam, which receives a large chunk of funds 5 schemes worth over Rs 100 crore has been handed for concurrent audit. All the States in the Region have been advised to publicize project details. Time frame for completion of projects given and area Officers for each state earmarked.
However, some of the State including Assam has so far not furnished details to the DONER about the contractors who are executing the projects.
With the States in the Region having earned notoriety in diverting funds for payment of salaries, DONER is not taking any chances. Apart from asking the CAG to conduct concurrent audit in few selected projects, it is also in the process of identifying retired persons who would be appointed as consultants for survey the progress of the projects.
Besides, field inspections of projects have been intensified and each State being visited at least once in two months by the officials of the Department and their reports being put on web site. The release of fund is also being monitored rigorously. Releases are being made only after earlier fund’s utilization has been checked and verified, as part of the measures to check misuse of funds.
Besides, to establish a more transparent system guidelines to administer Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources ( NLCPR) have been set out. Project identification is being taken up in partnership with states with states advised to prioritize project proposals. A Web site for the Department (northeast.nic.in) has been launched which carries all up-dated and requisite information for investors and public.
Last year, accruals to Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources have been sorted out. Already 162 projects worth Rs.3093 crore are under implementation. The fund release mechanism streamlined and simplified.
The allocation of funds has, however, left Assam Government sulking. As against an allocation of Rs 289.61 crore from NLCPR during the period 1998-2002, it was allotted a meagre Rs 17.85 crore during the period 2002-2003.
A major achievement of DONER has to fix the corpus of the funds of the NLCPR by reconciling allocation of 18 ministries. The corpus is estimated to be worth Rs 5,806 crore between 1998-2002.
The launching of the regional air service, which is expected to become operational from the second week of January, is a major feat for DONER, which would contributes Rs 35 crore annually for the project. Efforts were on to augment facilities at 12 existing airports to improve region’s connectivity.
Provisions have been made for four 50-seater aircrafts in the region. Optical Fibre Network has connected Shillong, Itanagar and Guwahati to Kolkata. 1450 kms extension is in the pipeline. Communication network. 487 block level community information Centres have been planned to connect the region via v-sat with rest of the world. Of them more than 400 are already functional.