Centre released Rs 2100.13 crore to NE states in 2020-21: Minister tells Lok Sabha
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Monday told the Lok Sabha that the amount out of the 10 per cent of the Gross Budget support, supposed to be earmarked for the North Eastern Region (NER), is neither accumulated nor lies with any ministry or department.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Monday told the Lok Sabha that the amount out of the 10 per cent of the Gross Budget support, supposed to be earmarked for the North Eastern Region (NER), is neither accumulated nor lies with any ministry or department.
Replying to an unstarred question raised by Shillong MP Vincent H Pala, Chaudhary informed that the non-accumulation of the amount is because the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) is a notional fund with a provisional amount of Rs 90425.49 crore till March 31, 2020, maintained on a Pro-forma basis.
To a question on the amount of interest-free loan granted, sanctioned and released to the NER states during the last five years, the minister said a 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure for 2020-21' Scheme was launched on October 12, 2020.
Under this scheme, special assistance amounting to Rs 2100.13 crore was provided to the NER states in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan in the year 2020-21.
Amount released to the eight northeastern states:
Arunachal Pradesh: Rs 232.97 crore
Assam: Rs 450.00 crore
Manipur: Rs 317.16 crore
Meghalaya: Rs 200 crore
Mizoram: Rs 200 crore
Nagaland: Rs 200 crore
Sikkim: Rs 200 crore
Tripura: Rs 300 crore
When asked about the steps taken to clear all the back-logs of NLCPR Fund lying with the Union government to release to the NER states, Chaudhary said a Central Sector Umbrella Scheme, "Central Pool of Resources for Northeast and Sikkim" was launched for this purpose under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
"This scheme is meant for the flow of budgetary finances for a specific viable infrastructure project in NER, in addition to the projects undertaken by other Central Ministries/departments through 10 per cent mandatory earmarking," read his reply.
