From CK Nayak
Ex-Union Minister calls for revival of North East Investment and Industrial Promotion Policy
New Delhi: Meghalaya will be the worst sufferer if the Central Government does not revive the North East Investment and Industrial Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) and its main component – Transport Subsidy Scheme – since the Hill State used to receive maximum benefit compared to any other state, Lok Sabha member from Shillong, Vincent H Pala, said on Sunday.
Quoting officials, Pala said that in the last four years Meghalaya received Rs.435.30 crores as transport subsidy and another Rs.220.79 from NEIIP which is higher than any other state and even the remaining seven states of the North East including Assam put together.
All the eight Northeastern states combined received Rs.1251.96 crores from 2011 till 2014 out of which Meghalaya alone got Rs.656.09 crores.
The NEIPP was approved in 2007 to promote industries in the landlocked North East region which were not accessible because of rough terrain and hostile climate with TSS as a major component. But the same was not renewed late last year with the NDA Government assuring alternative schemes.
Under the transport subsidy scheme all the Northeastern states barring Meghalaya received Rs.356.89 crores with Assam getting a share of Rs.292.92 crores.
Similarly under the NEIIPP they received Rs.238.95 crores during the same period with Assam, the largest state in the region, getting Rs.183.85 crores, much less compared to Meghalaya in both the cases.
The figures were also corroborated in a letter from Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Nirmala Sitharaman to the former Union Minister (Pala) recently. She had even lauded the success of NEIIPP so far and had assured more funds in both the schemes in the financial year 2014-15.
“I have requested the Finance Minister for additional allocation of funds,” she had said in the letter.
However, her Ministry withdrew the same few days later.