SHILLONG: The DoNER Ministry is now contemplating giving new roles to the North Eastern Council (NEC) that works towards the development of the states in the region.
Talking to media persons here on Saturday, DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh said reports of NEC facing fund crunch is “a misinterpretation”. He clarified that there has been a cautious effort to reorient NEC and allot it a new role.
According to Singh, the Ministry has adopted a very cautious effort to give reorientation for a new kind of role to the NEC, which would be of conducting research and ideas, new developmental plans for the region
“On the contrary, through NE infrastructure development scheme the prerogative and the spectrum of authority resting with the NEC will increase,” he told the audience at the platinum jubilee celebration function of The Shillong Times.
Making it clear that the NEC would remain an autonomous council, he said the council would now have more meaningful role in conducting and evolving new concepts for the region.
It may be mentioned that as per reports the NEC is left without any fund for new projects in the current financial year 2019-2020.
The NEC budget caters to central projects implemented by agencies like NERCORMP, ICAR, BRO and AAI and for the requirement of all the eight states, it needs more budgetary support.
