Non-issuance of NOC for road projects also comes under scanner
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday took serious note of the non-release of allotted funds to the three autonomous district councils in Meghalaya by the State Government and withholding of NOCs by the councils thus threatening to derail several major transport infrastructure projects worth over Rs 4000 crore.
“The Union Finance Ministry is in touch with the concerned officials of the Home Ministry to find out why the allotted funds to the tune of Rs 230 crore have not yet been released to the district councils,” Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley told Shillong MP Vincent H Pala.
The former Union Minister had shot off a letter to Jaitley stating that while funds sanctioned for the district councils by the Centre have not been released by the State Government, the ADCs, mainly the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), was not giving NOC for acquiring land required for several road projects.
“All these projects are time bound and if NOC is not given these will be diverted to other states,” a concerned Pala told The Shillong Times after receiving assurances from the Centre.
The Shillong MP also said that he would write to the KHADC CEM on this major issue.
“Because of non-release of funds to the district councils, no work is taking place in the council areas and everything has virtually come to a standstill,” Pala added.
The held up projects awaiting release of funds include improvement and widening of Ranikor-Baghmara road (Rs.695.15 crore), two-laning and upgradation of Nongstoin-Mawthabah road, two-laning and upgradation of Mawshynrut-Athiabari road (Rs.426 crore)- all under SARDP.
The held up projects also include JICA-financed (Japanese funding agency) Tura-Dalu road.
“Work for two roads which were to be declared national highways have also been held up due to the fund crunch,” Pala said.
In total eight big projects have been stalled due to non-release of funds to the ADCs and non-issuance of NOC by the councils, the Shillong MP said adding that he will also write to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma urging him to release the allotted funds to the councils.
Another Lok Sabha MP from the State, Conrad Sangma had also complained to the Centre about blocking of the allotted funds to the ADCs. Sangma had on Monday demanded that the funds be released immediately with interest. An amount of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) while Rs 130 crore has been kept aside for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and another Rs 40 crore is meant for the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC). The Centre was in the process of releasing another Rs 100 crore for the three autonomous district councils of the State.