Centre allocates Rs 1,237 cr under Tribal Affairs & Jal Shakti to Nagaland in 4 yrs: Union MoS Tudu

KOHIMA, DECEMBER 5: Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs, Bishweswar Tudu today said that the Central Government has allocated funds amounting to Rs 1,237.51 crore since 2019-20 to 2022-23 under the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti to Nagaland.
Addressing a press conference at Hotel Japfu here, Tudu, who arrived at Kohima on his maiden 2-day visit to the State today, Tudu said that on arrival at Dimapur he held meeting with the BJP Nagaland unit karyakartas and came to the State capital by road.
In Kohima, Tudu reviewed the implementation of various schemes and developmental works under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Education and Health under the Ministries of Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs in the Secretariat.
During the meeting, he said that the State Government officials apprised him about the difficulty in carrying out major irrigation projects under Irrigation due to the hilly terrain and landlocked areas as per the laid down guidelines of the Central Ministries.
In this, Tudu said he has asked the Department officials to make appropriate proposals which could be taken up at the highest level for review.
He said under JJM, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi targets to complete tap water connection to every household in the country by the end of 2023 or early 2024. He said the national progress is 57% but in Nagaland it is 54%. In this, he said that the Department highlighted the hilly terrain is a challenge to find the source. Nonetheless, the Department has assured to complete 80-90% of the work by 2023 end, he said.
Under Jal Shakti Ministry, he said the Central Government has allocated fund amounting to Rs 1099.67 crore from 2019-2020 till 2022- 2023 of which Rs 717.81 crore have released.
He said that of the released amount Rs 719.76 crore, including the State share of Rs 81.81 crore have been utilized for various projects.
Under the Tribal Affairs Ministry, also known as Article 275(1) of the Constitution, Rs 13,784.07 lakh was released to the State from the financial year 2019-20 to 2022-23 for various projects throughout, he said.
Tudu informed that under Tribal Affairs Ministry out of the 11 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), work has started for 10 while one is pending due to land issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned for the development of the tribal areas in the country, including Nagaland because of which he has set up a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs, said Tudu.
He called upon the implementing agencies in the State to ensure that benefits reach the grassroots so that the purpose of Prime Minister Modi to develop the tribal people will be fulfilled.
(Page News Service)