Rs 1,444-cr Central funds for NE

SHILLONG, July 9? The north-eastern States have received funds totalling Rs 1,444.87 crore from the non-lapsable Central pool during the period 1998-99 to 2001-2002 for implementing various development schemes. Official sources said that an amount of Rs 121.95 crore was released from the pool during the year 1998-99, which jumped to Rs 509.92 crore the next year. The following year, the releases from the non-lapsable pool slipped to Rs 313.04 crore. During 2001-2002, funds released to the North-east from the Central pool was Rs 499.96 crore. Assam secured Rs 293.16 crore (about 20 per cent) of the total release for the region during the four year period, followed by Manipur with Rs 275.42 crore. Tripura was the third biggest beneficiary from the pool receiving Rs 215.29 crore. The other NE States received varying amounts are as follows: Mizoram ? Rs 168.07 crore; Arunachal ? Rs 152.85 crore; Nagaland ? Rs 132.16 crore, Sikkim ? Rs 115.50 crore and Meghalaya ? Rs 66.81 crore.