New Delhi, March 2 (PTI): Centre on Wednesday blamed some state governments in the North East (NE) for delay in implementing various development projects, saying due to their apathy, many initiatives have remained incomplete.
Certain state governments in the NE have not submitted utilisation certificates, Detailed Project Report and other required documents on time, leading to delay in completion of projects, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh said in Lok Sabha.
"There have been reports regarding funds not being released in time and delays in sending utilisation certificates and other documents in a number of cases, resulting in delays in completion of projects," he said during Question Hour. "Out of 434 projects sanctioned under the NLCPR, there is a delay in 193 projects."
In Assam, under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), as on February 26 this year, an amount of Rs 2609.53 crore has been released, against which utilisation certificates amounting to Rs 1,814.65 crore have been received, Singh said.
Under the North Eastern Council schemes, an amount of Rs 505.48 crore has been released for 81 ongoing projects against which utilisation certificates amounting to Rs 414.89 crore have been received. Out of 81 ongoing projects under NEC, there is a delay in 46 projects, he said.
Govt focusing on more LPG penetration in East, NE
New Delhi, March 2 (PTI): Government is committed to enhance LPG penetration in the country with special focus on eastern and north-eastern states and has earmarked an initial fund of Rs 2,000 crore this year for the purpose, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the government's endeavour is to provide 5 crore more LPG connections with focus on poor and BPL families. "We are focussing on eastern and north-eastern states and we are committed to increase them in the next three years.There will be a quantum jump in LPG penetration.
"This government has a commitment to enhance and take a big leap to increase LPG penetration in eastern and north-eastern states," he said.
The Minister said West Bengal and Meghalaya, besides Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and other eastern and north-eastern states was top on government's priority to increase LPG penetration, as the LPG penetration was low in these states."We have made provisions for BPL families to provide them with LPG connections and a sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked initially this year," he said.
