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| Central funds for infrastructural upgrade to be earmarked for NE: Gogoi |
| BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Guwahati Feb 09, 2012, 00:04 IST |
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Underlining the “huge gaps in urban infrastructure in North Eastern Region”, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has demanded that at least 10 per cent of the total Central funds, meant for infrastructural upgrade, be earmarked for the North Eastern states.
He also demanded 10 per cent of funds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) II be earmarked for the North Eastern states.
“While formulating the policies and plans on urbanisation, special and differential treatment provisions should be made for the NE states in general and for the smaller and weaker Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) within the states,” said Gogoi.
He added: “For all future programmes at least 10 per cent of the resources of the Centre should be spent on the NE states. This would, to some extent, bridge the huge urban infrastructure gaps that exist in the region.”
He said more emphasis need to be given on building up of infrastructure of small and medium towns to prevent migration of people to big towns and cities in search of jobs and greener pastures.
Agreeing to the recommendations of the sub-committee on creation of municipal cadre, Gogoi said: “It’s a step in the right direction. We have already brought the councillors and officers of ULBs under the purview of the Lokayukta for better accountability. Moreover, the audit of ULBs is done under the technical guidance and supervision of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Gogoi said the devolution of eighteen functions; funds and functionaries under the 12th Schedule of the Constitution have been carried out through a recent amendment of the Assam Municipal Act. However, he disagreed with the framework model municipal law under Article 252 of the Constitution. “It should not be binding upon us. We want only a framework law containing the key features to be incorporated in the state laws but not under Article 252,” he added.
Accepting the recommendations of the expert group regarding strategic planning, Gogoi said the state government is already in the process of amending the existing Town and Country Planning Act.
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