In the Union Budget 2019-20 presented by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the budgetary allocation for DoNER ministry has been increased to Rs 3,000 crore from Rs 2,629 crore of 2018-19.
“The budget has given much importance as far as the northeastern states are concerned,” said the BJP MP from Assam’s Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency, Pallab Lochan Das.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
He said importance was given on a very vital factor of Northeast that is connectivity.
“We need connectivity by air, water and roads…and importance has been given on all these three sectors,” said Das.
Also read: Assam CM hails Union Budget 2019-20, terms it ‘pro-people, pro-poor’
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Allocation for infrastructure and roads has also been increased substantially.
However, allocation in the schemes of North Eastern Council (NEC) has been decreased from Rs 607 crore of 2018-1-19 to Rs 580 crore in 2019-20.
The allocation under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), however, has been increased from Rs 140 crore of 2018-19 to Rs 695 crore 2019-20.
Also read: Northeast industry bodies hail Union Budget 2019-20
Union finance minister Sitharaman has also slashed allocation for Central Pool of Resources for Northeastern states including Sikkim from Rs 781 crore of 2018-19 to Rs 531 crore in 2019-20.
Allocation under North East Road Sector Development Scheme is increased from Rs 391 crore of 2018-19 to Rs 666 crore in 2019-20.
“We need water for every household in Northeast and this assurance was given in the Union Budget. Skill sector has also got importance which has more relevance to Northeast,” said Das.