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Handique mantra on NEC funds

Guwahati, Feb. 10 : DoNER minister and chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC) B.K. Handique today said higher fund allocations to the council could only come with increased expenditure and higher offtake.
He said though the proposed allocation during the 11th Five Year plan for the NEC was Rs 7,394 crore, the actual disbursement had been only Rs 1,824 crore in the first three years of the plan till now.
Handique said it was unlikely that the rest of funds could come in the next two years.
“Members of the council have voiced their concerns on a number of occasions in this matter and only an upward curve of expenditure and higher offtake can convince the case for higher allocations,” the DoNER minister said at an NEC meeting here today.
Earlier, chief minister Tarun Gogoi in his presentation at the meeting, stressed primarily three issues — improvement in connectivity, education and agriculture.
“These issues must be addressed and implemented for development of the region and for the benefit of the common man. Poor connectivity is one reason for the backwardness of the region,” Gogoi said.
Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar said the NEC budget should be raised to Rs 2,000 crore.
Sarkar stressed the need to remove poverty through improvement of rail, road, water connectivity and the agriculture sector.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the NEC budget should be enhanced or else planning and vision would be of no use.
“There should also be equitable distribution of financial assistance from NEC,” Rio added.
Guwahati, Feb. 10 : DoNER minister and chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC) B.K. Handique today said higher fund allocations to the council could only come with increased expenditure and higher offtake.
He said though the proposed allocation during the 11th Five Year plan for the NEC was Rs 7,394 crore, the actual disbursement had been only Rs 1,824 crore in the first three years of the plan till now.
Handique said it was unlikely that the rest of funds could come in the next two years.
“Members of the council have voiced their concerns on a number of occasions in this matter and only an upward curve of expenditure and higher offtake can convince the case for higher allocations,” the DoNER minister said at an NEC meeting here today.
Earlier, chief minister Tarun Gogoi in his presentation at the meeting, stressed primarily three issues — improvement in connectivity, education and agriculture.
“These issues must be addressed and implemented for development of the region and for the benefit of the common man. Poor connectivity is one reason for the backwardness of the region,” Gogoi said.
Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar said the NEC budget should be raised to Rs 2,000 crore.
Sarkar stressed the need to remove poverty through improvement of rail, road, water connectivity and the agriculture sector.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the NEC budget should be enhanced or else planning and vision would be of no use.
“There should also be equitable distribution of financial assistance from NEC,” Rio added.