By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Monday the decline in the budget allocation for the North Eastern Council (NEC) for development projects “does not augur well for the region” and asked the Centre to raise it to Rs 2,000 crore.
The NEC budget for 2018-19 is Rs 1,134 crore and 60 per cent of it (Rs 681 crore) is set aside for funding projects proposed by the states in the region. This is against the Rs 880 crore that was allocated in 2017-18 out of the budget of Rs 925 crore.
“Without suitable financial backing from the NEC, it will be difficult for the northeastern states to reach the desired levels of growth and development as envisioned in the NER Vision 2020,” said Sangma at the 67th Plenary of the council in the city that was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Sangma also urged the Centre to ensure flexibility in the implementation of the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) that has replaced the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources.
Apprising Singh on the NEC schemes sanctioned for 2017-18, which are yet to be approved, Sangma said, “The delay in the approval of the schemes is hampering developmental projects. All the chief ministers of North East are here and I would like to inform that there are communication gap between NEC and the Ministry of DoNER. Even if the guideline is pending let it be prospective and without any delay the scheme should be rolled out.”
Sangma pointed out that the NEC’s decision to focus on specific sectors like bamboo, piggery and regional tourism, among others, will also play a role in queering the pitch for investments in crucial sectors like human resource development, power, transport and communication sector in “resource inelastic states”.
“In the spirit of the federal structure, any important decision on change of approach and guidelines must be taken at the Plenary Session of the NEC. Therefore, pending any further decision which should be decided in the Plenary Session for any modification of guidelines or change approached, I would urge upon the Ministry of DoNER and the NEC to review their recent decisions and to continue providing financial assistance to the developmental programmes of the states, as has been done in the past,” he asserted.
On 2022 National Games, the chief minister sought for additional infrastructure to enable the state government to host the event successfully. “The fund requirement for the creation of the stadia, games village, etc is estimated to be about Rs 1,500 crore. The state government has put forward a request to the Centre for a special grant for this purpose which may be routed through the Ministry of DoNER and NEC,” he said.
Sangma also highlighted the need for improving the airport at Umroi in view of the National Games. He apprised the home minister of the challenge to cut the hills to increase the runway, which involves huge financial implication. He urged the Centre to consider the proposal for budget from the state and ensure that the existing Shillong airport at Umroi is made fully functional for larger aircraft.
He also sought the Centre’s intervention in starting the Baljek airport in Garo Hills. He urged the Centre to provide additional allocation of funds to address the challenge of climate change, mitigation and adaptation in NE.
Stressing the need for international air connectivity between northeastern states with Yangon, Naypyidaw, Bangkok and other South East Asian cities for promotion of trade and tourism in the context of Act East policy, Sangma said special economic corridors and special economic zones need to be developed with focus on export and also to meet the domestic demands of the region.
“Our main focus should be on processing units in agricultural and allied produces which can also generate employment. NEC should be mandated to take up this issue with the Centre on behalf of the NE States,” he added.
Sangma proposed rotational meetings among all the northeastern states every six months to discuss common issues and agenda to improve cultural, trade and business relation with ASEAN countries.
He mooted an idea that all chief ministers of the region should travel together to understand business and trade potentials with ASEAN countries.
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