Mukul calls for better coordination from Centre, expected more from Budget
SHILLONG: Reacting to the Union Budget 2014-15, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma expressed concern over the huge accumulation of unspent money sanctioned under the 10 percent compulsory allocation for the region out of the total budgetary allocation from various line ministries of the Centre.
“There is a need to restructure the system to ensure effective implementation of various development programmes which had been earmarked for the region by the various line ministries. A transparent mechanism should be adopted by the Centre while taking up programmes in consultation with the state governments,” Sangma said while talking to newsmen here on Thursday.
Sangma also said that there was expectation for a “comprehensive support system” for development of the Northeastern region.
Stating that he had “flagged off” several concerns ahead of the budget to the Union government, Sangma said, “We were expecting more,” adding that the Budget’s provisions need to be studied thoroughly.
“A substantial amount of money is parked with the ministry of finance,” he stated, adding that in this regard the Centre should evolve a “transparent mechanism” in consultation with the state governments of the Northeast which are entitled to 10 per cent budgetary allocations from various Central ministries.
Sangma also rued that there was no mention of promotion of trade and commerce between northeastern states and the neighbouring countries in the Budget.
He stressed that the international “boundaries of conflict”, which the region shares with neighbouring countries ought to be transformed into “boundaries of prosperity” from a geo-political angle through enhanced trade and commerce.
