The government plans to set up a Sports University in Manipur as part of its development programme for the North-Eastern region, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Minister for Development of North-Eastern Region V K Singh said provision has been made in the Budget for 2014-15 for setting up a Sports Univerity in Manipur.
The government is discussing how to make programmes for North-East more effective and "how to ensure North-East gets attention, it deserves," he said.
The Minister said shortcomings in detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted by state governments and delays in techno-economic clearance/vetting of DPRs by the line ministries or central public sector undertakings are some of the reasons for more time being taken in getting sanction and funds released.
Also, non-submission of timely and complete documents like utilisation certificate, work plan and inspection report, and delay in tendering process are other reasons.
During 2013-14, Rs 850 crore was allocated to eight North Eastern states from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources. Of this, Rs 237.14 crore went to Assam and Rs 116.87 crore to Arunachal Pradesh, Singh said.
He said Meghalaya got Rs 90.70 crore, Nagaland Rs 87.90 crore, Manipur Rs 86.77 crore, Tripura Rs 77.81 crore and Sikkim Rs 76.14 crore.
Besides, Rs 698.05 crore was allocated to North Eastern Council (NEC) with highest amount of Rs 119.61 crore going to Nagaland, he added.
