The DONER Ministry has released Rs 196.15 crore to Meghalaya under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) during the last five years from 2016 to 2021.
There is no State-wise budgetary allocation of the funds under the NLCPR scheme of the DONER Ministry. Funds under the NLCPR-Central component of the scheme are released to the respective central implementing agencies.
However, under the NLCPR-State component of the scheme, project-wise funds are released to the respective state governments for implementation.
A total of Rs 2367.98 crore has been released by the DONER Ministry under NLCPR for all the eight North East states during the last five years.
Out of the total amount, Assam got Rs 533.44 crore, Manipur Rs 404.70 crore, Arunachal Pradesh Rs 308.15 crore, Sikkim Rs 253.55 crore, Mizoram Rs 237.41 crore, Nagaland Rs 236.08 crore and Tripura Rs 198.50 crore.
Compared with all eight North East states, Meghalaya received the least amount of NLCPR funds at only Rs 196.15 crore.
As per the extant guidelines, all non-exempted Central ministries and departments are mandated to spend at least 10 per cent of Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes in North East region.
However, instead of a pre-decided state-wise allocation, funds are spent by the concerned ministries and departments in the North East states against sanctioned projects or schemes.
Meanwhile, during the last two financial years i.e. 2019-20 and 2020-21, the DONER Ministry has sanctioned 54 projects worth Rs.1320.49 crore for various states of the North East under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) which is a 100 per cent Central funded Central Sector Scheme.
Of this, there are three projects sanctioned for Meghalaya at a total cost of Rs 59.16 crore.
Under the NESIDS, funds are allocated to North East states on the basis of normative allocation in the beginning of the financial year. Projects that enhance tourism through physical infrastructure projects relating to water supply, power and connectivity; and projects to upgrade social infrastructure for primary and secondary education and health are covered.
Candidate projects under these identified sectors are required to be duly prioritised by the state governments with the approval of the competent authority before being considered for sanction and eventual funding under NESIDS.
