Lok Sabha Question No. 2628 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Review of Development Projects
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA, PINAKI MISRA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION**

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION  No. 2628**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON  05.08.2015**

**QUESTION**

**Review of Development Projects**

**2628.  SHRI   R. P.  MARUTHARAJAA  :**

**SHRI  VINCENT  H. PALA :**

**SHRI  PINAKI  MISRA :**

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to

state :

(a)  whether the Government has recently reviewed the development projects being implemented under various schemes in the North Eastern Region (NER) ;

(b)   if so, the details thereof along with the short comings/irregularities identified in the implementation of these development projects ;

(c)  the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for effective implementation of the projects ;

(d)   whether there is any proposal to sanction new projects for the development of NER and for generation of employment in the region ; and

(e)	    if so, the details thereof along with the expenditure likely to be incurred in this regard ?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION**

**( DR. JITENDRA SINGH )**

1. & (b): The review of projects sanctioned under the various schemes of the Ministry is a continuous process.  The shortcomings like preparation of priority lists without proper and scientific gap analysis, delay in submission of priority lists, lack of field inspection prior to project conception/DPR, inadequacies  in concept papers & Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), release of fund by the State Government to the Executive Agency and delay in finalization of tenders were observed in case of new projects.  Non-submission of Utilization Certificate, Quarterly Progress Reports, Inspection Reports etc. and release of matching state share on time were found the main areas of concern in case of ongoing projects.

(c) :  To overcome the shortcomings in new projects, states have been asked to introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) for proper gap analysis before prioritization of projects and make electronic presentation with baseline data and photos before the Empowered Committee during clearance of new projects.  E-mail and message alerts of releases and utilizations of funds have been  introduced.  State Governments have been also sensitized to release funds to the implementing agency on time & submit complete and proper information to the Ministry for getting subsequent installments against ongoing projects.

(d) &(e): For development of North Eastern Region through various schemes of the Ministry,  provision for expenditure of Rs. 975.00 crore under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) - State scheme, Rs. 90.00 crore under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources(NLCPR)- Central scheme, Rs.773.00 crore under North Eastern Council (NEC), Rs. 225.00 crore under North East Road Corporation,  Rs. 170.00 crore under Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) and Rs. 24.50 crore under Asian Development Bank (ADB) assisted North Eastern State Roads Investment Programme (NESRIP) have been made for the year 2015-16. There is no any specific scheme in the Ministry for generating employment in the region, however Rs. 16.00 crore have been allocated under Capacity Building &Technical Assistance (CB&TA) programme of the Ministry for the year 2015-16 for skilling the youth of the North Eastern Region.