IMPHAL, July 14: Unhappy with the workings of the Tribal welfare department which is the nominated nodal department to monitor the implementation of the schemes in Tribal Sub Plan/Hill areas under the annual plans, the Planning Commission of India has strongly directed the department to monitor the implementation of the schemes properly.
According to an official source, enough funds has been provided to the hill areas/TSP as under the annual plan of 2009-10 with fund flow to the area estimated to be around 39 percent of the total plan size for a total population of 40.86 percent of the total state population as per the 2001 census.
Out of total outlay/expenditure of Rs.1998.91 crores, the fund flow/expenditure to the hill areas has been calculated as Rs.815.48 crores, which include Rs.186.30 crores under Special Plan Assistance, (SPA) for taking up various infrastructure development projects in the areas.
The projects include construction of mini-secretariat complexes in all hill district head quarters, construction of guest houses, construction of ADC office, Pherzol, setting up of residential schools in all hill districts, up-gradation of infrastructure of higher secondary schools, construction of sport complex at district head quarters of Chandel and Senapati districts, construction of tribal hostels (100 capacity each) at Senapati and Tamenglong districts, construction of 132 KV S/S lines (second circuit) from Yurembam to Yaingangpokpi, construction of secure housing at Senapati district, construction of 100 dedded hospital at Churachandpur, installation of 132/33 KV S/C at Ukhrul, control of anti-erosion echeme in hill areas, up-gradation of roads in hill districts etc the source added.
Further according to the source, taking into consideration the need to complete the undertaken projects in the hill areas of the state in time, the Planning Commission of India allocated additional financial assistance amounting to Rs.1017.50 under the TSP from the total Rs 2600 state annual plan for 2010-11.
The source has also maintained that due to the non availability of timely review and monitoring of the projects undertaken in the hill areas since the last two financial years coupled with the delay in compilation of physical progress and expenditure flow of funds to the TSP by the concerned state nodal department, the target for the completion of most of the projects are yet to be finalized till date which has become a major concern for the state.
Acknowledging the issues regarding the implementation of the projects in the hill districts of the state, the centre has directed the state government to take up necessary steps to expedite the construction works for early completion of the projects under the TSP, added the source.
Meanwhile, another official source has observed that direct or indirect interference from the elected council members of the ADCs of the hill districts in monitoring the projects taken up in the hill districts could positively impact the progress of the undertaken projects in the hill districts.
