DoNER Minister G. Kishan Reddy told the Lok Sabha on Monday that the Centre has released a total of Rs.749.63 crore under special package for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in the last 3 years.
Reddy in a written reply to a query told the Lok Sabha on Monday that no centrally-sponsored scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER).
However, during the last three years funds amounting to Rs.1467.51 crore have been released under various central sector schemes of MDoNER to the Assam government.
“MDoNER does not release funds to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) directly,” Reddy said.
However, the Ministry provided funds to the Assam government under the special package for Bodoland Territorial Council for various developmental projects, Reddy said.
“Under this package of Rs.750.00 crore, 65 projects for Rs.749.63 crore have been sanctioned, against which Rs.714.24 crore have been released including Rs.3.85 crore during the last three years,” Reddy informed the Lok Sabha.
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So far 54 projects worth Rs.589.11 crore have been completed and the remaining projects are at various stages of implementation, it said.
“Funds to the government of Assam for the sanctioned projects are released as and when all the requisite documents including utilisation certificates, physical and financial progress etc. are received from the state government, as per the scheme guidelines,” Reddy said.
A new Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed amongst the government of India, government of Assam and Bodo Groups (ABSU and NDFB factions) on 27.01.2020.
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This MoS, inter alia, states that the Assam government may earmark a sum of Rs. 250.00 crore per annum for a period of three years for special development of the area under BTC.
Further, the government of India may contribute an additional amount of Rs.250.00 crore per annum for the same period.
So far, the Assam government has forwarded during the month of November 2021, a total of 3 project proposals worth Rs. 265.00 crore prepared by the Bodoland Territorial Council for funding under the special development package for BTC, it said.