Centre puts Northeast funding on fast track

The Centre has begun fast-tracking project approvals for Northeast-specific schemes after the chief ministers there complained of a slowdown, triggering top-level reviews as first reported by ET on August 14.

The Ministry of Development of North East Regions (DONER) has finally issued the muchawaited guidelines for all major funding schemes the flagship PM’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-Devine), North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) and for the North Eastern Council (NEC).

This is a key step to set the stage for processing several development proposals made by the eight north eastern states for central funding. In a Press Information Bureau statement issued on Monday evening, DONER said that recasting of various schemes necessitated guideline overhauls which has now been effected.

“The MDONER schemes help provide gap-filling support to the eight North Eastern states as per their felt needs, by taking up projects for example, for developing infrastructure to mitigate connectivity and social sector deficits and enhancing livelihood and employment opportunities in the region.

The newly-issued detailed schemes’ guidelines, combined with the concerted efforts of the ministry and with the kind support of NE states, will facilitate to achieve the intended objectives in a transparent and accelerated manner,” read the statement. ET had reported on August 14 that fund release for new projects across several Northeast states had come to a near standstill this financial year.