SHILLONG, Sep 13: Mawsynram C&RD Block has not been allotted any project under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) in the past two years; with this contention, TMC MLA from Mawsynram HM Shangpliang questioned the government over its purported failure in allocating projects in villages under the block, on the floor of the House on Tuesday.
Moving a zero-hour notice on the third day of the Autumn Session, Shangpliang said that no funds were received for the year 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
He informed the House that Mawsynram had proposed schemes worth Rs 2.12 crore for the year 2021-2022 and Rs 2.28 crore for 2022-2023.
Stating that these schemes have already been approved by the state-level committees, he sought answers from Minister in-charge of Border Area Development on the issue, and measures taken by the government, if any, to ensure the early release of the funds. “The non-receipt of the funds has hampered the development of the border areas and only in the Mawsynram C&RD block. This has caused a lot of hardships in providing development to the remote border villages,” the Mawsynram MLA said.
Before the end of the term, the funds pertaining to the two fiscal years should be released, Shangpliang told the minister in charge.
In his reply, Minister in-charge of Border Area Development Lahkmen Rymbui said during the financial year 2020-2021, the Centre approved 139 projects amounting to Rs 15.66 crore but the fund was not released during that period.
“The matter has been freely inquired from the Ministry and the reason given is COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Border Management under the Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2022 had released an amount of Rs 650 lakh (585 lakh central share and state share of 65 lakh) as the first trench,” Rymbui informed.
According to Rymbui, during the year 2019-2020, an amount of Rs 50.60 lakh was sanctioned for implementation of BADP in the state and the utilisation certificate (UC) has been submitted to the Ministry in December, 2021.
“Moreover, 14 projects amounting to Rs 3,75,97,950 were approved by the Ministry during 2019-2020 and were sanctioned during 2021-2022. The amount has been fully utilised for the purpose for which it was sanctioned,” Rymbui informed.
“169 projects amounting to Rs 22.29 crore as per ministry allocation for the year 2022 have been approved by the state level screening committee and the same was sent to the ministry. However, no funds have been received till date,” Rymbui informed.
The annual action plan for the year 2022-2023 has been approved by the state level screening committee, he said, while adding that the ministry has instructed that the action plan for the year 2022-2023 should not be submitted.