Lucknow, Dec 04: Chief Minister Mayawati has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday requesting the Centre to empower the state to sanction the projects to be undertaken under the special package cleared by the Union Cabinet for the development of the Budelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
She also demanded Special Area Incentive Package (SAIP) for the region. According to her, the geographical condition of the region is similar to other states which have received SAIP.
Terming the special package for Bundelkhand as insufficient, Mayawati wrote in the letter: “The Centre has sanctioned an additional assistance of only Rs 1,595 crore for Bundelkhand for three years, which is insufficient, as UP will get less than Rs 550 crore every year.”
She claimed that the remaining amount would be made available through conversion from the Central schemes, which were already being implemented.
“The people of Bundelkhand are disappointed with the meagre assistance announced by the Centre,” she said.
The chief minister has also written about the task that the Centre had entrusted National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) of examining and approving the projects ensuring the synergisation of the proposals of the state governments with the ongoing Central programmes.
According to Mayawati, since the Centre had decided to implement the package from the current fiscal, keeping in view the limited period of the financial year, it would be proper that the NRAA should end the process of project assessment and the sanctioning powers should be given to the state directly.
According to the Central government’s decision, the two state governments — Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh — will have to identify their respective agencies which will draw the project proposals for implementation in their respective Bundelkhand area ensuring convergence with Centrally-sponsored/funded programmes.
In order to enhance the benefits of the region, the NRAA will examine and approve these projects.
Mayawati has also requested the PM to direct the Central Planning Commission to provide sufficient resources to the region for its all-round development.
Principal Secretary (Planning) J N Chamber, meanwhile, confirmed that the state government has received the official communication from the Centre regarding the clearance of a special package for the development of Bundelkhand region.
Earlier, the Central government had approved a special package of Rs 7, 266 crore for implementation of drought mitigation strategy over a period of three years commencing from 2009-10 for integrated development of the region comprising seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and six districts of Madhya Pradesh.
A part of the cost of the package would be met by converging resources from the ongoing Central programmes and schemes. The Centre has sanctioned an additional assistance to the tune of Rs 3,450 crore, which is to be provided to the two states — Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
–Agencies