IMPHAL, January 22: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has been providing financial assistance to the state government for implementing various regional projects to develop infrastructure and the social sector.
Various NEC funded projects have been assigned to the state government under the annual plan for some years.
Out of the 80 NEC funded projects, 90% of the cost of some projects is to be borne by the NEC and 10% by the state government. Some projects are completely funded by NEC.
Some of the important projects includes providing assistance in regional projects like NERCOR MP-II, skill development programs, upgradation of Imphal Airport, upgradation of the Mahadev- Tolloi and Tamenglong-Khongsang road.
BRO is executing the road development activities of the two aforementioned roads.
But the state government in spite of the NEC funding is able to complete only 22 projects with 58 projects remaining unfinished.
The 80 projects were undertaken under the annual plans 2012-13, 2013-14 of the 11th Five Year Plan. Some of the other projects are related with the power, transport and communication, human resource devolopment (HRD), agriculture and other allied sectors like tourism, health and water resources.
NEC has earmarked 701.35 crores for these projects. Out of the total funds, 62.45% is to be utilized in the hill districts. But 58 projects are yet to see the light of day.
Our sources told IFP that out of the earmarked 701.35 crores, NEC has released only 279.01 crores so far for the financial year 2013-14 of the 11th Five Year Plan.
Out of the 279.01 crores, the state government has utilised only 194.58 crores with only 70.83 % of the work being completed.
As the matter stand today, there is a possibility of NEC refusing to release the funds as the government has failed to provide proper utilisation certificates for those projects which are purported to be 70.83% complete.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/funding-of-58-nec-projects-in-danger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=funding-of-58-nec-projects-in-danger