DIMAPUR— Highlighting that frequent changes in the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) guidelines is causing inordinate delayed in implementing various schemes, Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, who is also the minister of Planning and Transformation and National Highway, has sought the sought the intervention of Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to Prime Minister in streamlining such policies.
Zeliang stated this during a meeting with the chairman and members of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister along with the state government officials of various departments on June 12 held at the chief secretary conference hall to discuss important issues and challenges being faced by state while implementing centrally sponsored schemes, stated an update from the deputy CMO office.
Zeliang remarked that besides causing inordinate delay in implementing various schemes due to frequent changes in the centrally sponsored scheme guidelines, the state is finding difficult to keep up with the changes in the content of the guidelines. He cited examples of various road projects which have been stalled by the changes in the central ministry guidelines.
“Moreover, some of the uniform central guidelines for CSS are not practical in hill areas as the expenditure in plain areas and the hill are completely different. If such guidelines are strictly imposed, a state like Nagaland can never meet the requirement and will be losing out on new projects,” Zeliang pointed out.
Alleging that some policies of the central government are indirectly discriminating smaller states like Nagaland, Zeliang has sought the intervention of Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister in streamlining such policies.
He informed that the development outlay for the current year was INR 820 crore, an increase of INR 45 crore over the last financial year. Out of this, he stated that INR 250 crore has been earmarked for the state matching share for CSS to ensure the releases of funds. With the change in the accounting procedure where the state has to release its share within 21 days or face penalty, Zeliang stated that the state government is finding difficult in providing state share for various schemes.
He, therefore, requested the chairman of Economic Advisory Council to consider allocating separate funds to meet the requirement of the state share for CSS.
Stating that power is prerequisite both for infrastructure and investments, Zeliang said the state government is actively working to improve its generation capacity through hydro projects and renewable energy. He, however, pointed out that the present ceiling limits imposed on the north eastern states for seeking funding under externally assisted projects has severely impacted the capacity addition plans of the state.
Further stating that the roadmap to 2047 is the transformation for the state of Nagaland through development of infrastructure, connectivity, and technology driven investments, Zeliang has sought the support of EAC towards realising its vision.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary and was attended by the chairman of Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, Dr. Bibek Debroy, along with other members and the state government officials of various departments.
