NEC budget restored to Rs 500 crore

SHILLONG, April 5 : The Centre has restored the budget allocation for the North Eastern Council (NEC) to Rs 500 crore for the year 2003-2004, NEC Secretary PL Thanga announced today. Earlier, the Union Finance Ministry had made a cut on the NEC budget allocation by Rs 104.71 crore in January 2004 and the amount was restored to its original position due to personal intervention of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Thanga told reporters. The Prime Minister had communicated with the Planning Commission, Finance Ministry and DONER in this regard, he said.