Kohima: Nagaland burned through 263.41 crore in federal funds as of March 31. That total covers projects sanctioned at 552.83 crore under the Prime Minister Development Initiative for North East Region. The state reached a 47.6 percent expenditure mark. Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Sukanta Majumdar shared these figures in the Lok Sabha on July 22 after MP Gaurav Gogoi asked for details.
The scheme kicked off in October 2022. Officials have greenlit 51 projects worth 6,443.62 crore across the Northeast. So far, the region has utilized 2,534.29 crore. That equals roughly 39.3 percent of the total sanctioned cost. Sikkim leads the pack with a 78.1 percent spend rate. Assam sits at 40.6 percent, while Arunachal Pradesh trails at roughly 19.3 percent.
Critics questioned if Meghalaya and Nagaland were stuck at a 34 percent usage rate. The Ministry did not confirm that number. Officials pointed to logistical hurdles instead. "Utilisation varies across projects depending on factors such as the time required for tendering, award of works and mobilisation, site-specific and logistical challenges in hilly terrain, and requisite clearances," the Ministry stated.
State governments hold the reins for project execution. To speed things up, the government is using geo-tagged photos and field inspections. They are also holding regular reviews to clear bottlenecks. The Ministry urged agencies to tighten oversight and push for faster work schedules to keep money flowing into the region.
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