EMN
Dimapur, July 4
Chief Minister TR Zeliang has called for streamlining the system of implementation of NABARD funded projects, saying that the present system offers very less or no return to the State except creation of infrastructures.
The Chief Minister also urged the NABARD officials during a meeting at his residential office in Kohima today to focus on creating sustainable community based assets and income generating projects rather than funding more on redundant infrastructures which are becoming a burden for the State government in terms of continuous maintenance.Appreciating the contribution of NABARD towards development of the State, Zeliang, however, rued that huge amount of money has been invested in the State under NABARD negotiated loan for developing infrastructures and other projects but no tangible returns have been achieved by the State in reality. “Since the NABARD fund is a loan and recoverable by the state govt. with only 33.33 % subsidy there has to be profits from the projects so that it is sustainable and contributes to the upliftment of the people’s economy,” he stated. “We are spending lots of money under NABARD fund. But we do not know where it is going. Just releasing fund is of no use, there has to be some returns,” Zelaing said adding that the State cannot continue to adopt the same system which was not so beneficial to the state and its people.
The Chief Minister also urged the NABARD representatives to concentrate on Agri & Allied sectors since these sectors have tremendous scope for uplift of the economy of State, especially in the rural areas. He further suggested that the NABARD along with the implementing departments should first identify and explore the potential areas and prepare comprehensive projects on Agri & Allied sector and allocate projects accordingly.
“Such compact and comprehensive projects in the identified potential areas will help people undertake sustainable project on large scale and in turn facilitate easy accessibility to market,” he said.
Also, irrigation being the main engine of Agri & Allied sector, Zeliang urged the officials to identify some important rivers in the State where major agriculture activities are being carried out and where major irrigation project can be implemented in line with eco-tourism and aqua flora and fauna conservation.
“We cannot cover the whole State at one go. We must first identify significantly potential areas and prioritize it. And also distribute according to feasibility of the project. We cannot also apply the same schemes to both hill and plains area equally,” he stated.
Zelaing said Agri & Allied sector has failed to contribute up to the mark inspite of its tremendous potentials in the State because of untimely implementation of schemes and failure to apply appropriate technology.
He also urged the NABARD to study market accessibility before the implementation of the schemes while stressing the need to have frequent interface programme amongst the different departments of Agri & Allied sector and NABARD representative tos make a thorough assessment of the progress of the schemes and also to plan out comprehensive and integrated projects.
NABARD representatives V Chelladurai, GM, Tiakala, DGM and Bengdang Aier, AGM said different schemes are being implemented by them in the State. Presently, the schemes like Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Nagaland Infrastructures Development Agency (NIDA), Tribal Development Fund (TRDF), being implemented through well developed NGOs, are in operation besides consultancy services at nominal fee of 1% or less.
On the Chief Minister’s assertion that State’s share in the projects has become a difficulty for the State due to resource constraint because of which many major projects have been blocked by the Central government, NABARD officials informed that they even provide state’s share if the State government so requires.
The NABARD also disclosed that it has sanctioned huge amount of money for mini hydro power projects in State but it could not be utilized till date because of the demand of Power department for 100% cost escalation within a period of two years.
NABARD has also sanctioned money for agri-link roads and now has ventured into orchard promotions besides developing other infrastructures, the officials stated. Of the all the loans, NABARD loan is the cheapest and the ceiling limit is fixed by the planning commission as per project feasibility proposed by the state government, the officials said.
