Question : PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NER

(a) whether the Government has recently reviewed the programmes/projects undertaken for development of North Eastern Region (NER);

(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof alongwith the reasons for delay in the said projects;

(c) whether the Government has announced a special package for development of infrastructure and other development projects in North Eastern States including Arunachal Pradesh;

(d) if so, the details of the funds provided and utilized during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise and project-wise; and

(e) the achievement made therein, State-wise and project-wise?

MINISER, MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI BIJOY KRISHNA HANDIQUE)

(a) & (b) : As per Allocation of Business Rules, the major plan programmes being implemented by this Ministry include Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), Capacity Building and Advocacy & Publicity, primarily to fill up infrastructure gaps, to upgrade the skills of youths and to bring North East to the forefront of developmental process. These projects are constantly reviewed and monitored at various levels. Recently, NLCPR guidelines have been revised which have strong monitoring methodology to have objective reporting of the implementation of projects in the NE states. The projects are at various stages of completion. Since most of the infrastructure projects are especially long duration projects, delays occur due to reasons like rains for nearly six months, lack of skilled man-power, shortage of contractors etc.

(c) : A special package of Rs.500.00 crore for infrastructure development has been announced by Finance Minister for the North Eastern States including Arunachal Pradesh during the presentation of the budget of 2008-09.

(d) & (e) : Since the Special Fund was announced in budget speech for 2008-09, the requisite details for the last three years are not available. However, an allocation of Rs.146.80 crore has been provided during 2009-10 for the Special Fund and an amount of Rs.10.00 crore has been sanctioned to the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh for construction of Foot Suspension Bridges, expected to be completed during project period of one year.