Trinamool leader Derek O’ Brien flags underutilisation of funds meant for Northeast, seeks probe

Expressing “serious concerns” over underutilization of the budget, implementation delays and limited reach of central schemes in the Northeast and West Bengal, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien, in a letter to the panel chairman, urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs to investigate the Department of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER).

In his presentation to the committee chaired by BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Mr O’Brien, who is also a member of the panel, pointed out what he described as persistent underutilisation of funds by DoNER.

According to the figures he cited, it is claimed that 41 percent of the 2024-25 Budget Estimates and 36 percent of the 2025-26 appropriation have not been spent. He argued that repeated underspending undermined development efforts in a region of economic fragility and strategic importance.

Trinamool leaders also pointed out the limited implementation of the Centre’s rooftop solar scheme, ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’. The data cited by Mr. O’Brien shows wide disparities between targets and actual beneficiaries across the Northeastern States. For example, Arunachal Pradesh recorded only one beneficiary against a target of around 10,000, while Sikkim reported 26 beneficiaries despite a target of 25,000. According to the figures he shared, out of 3,06,408 households in the entire Northeast, only 75,407 households were covered, leaving 75% of the intended beneficiaries left out of the programme.

Mr O’Brien also highlighted the manpower shortage within the Ministry, noting that 25% of approved posts in DoNER were vacant. He argued that such vacancies weaken project monitoring and delay the disbursement of funds.

The letter also flagged the pending disaster relief dues requested by the West Bengal government from the Center for disasters dating back to 2019. According to Mr. O’Brien’s compilation, the total dues amount is ₹ 53,696 crore. Criticizing the Centre’s stance that disaster management is primarily the responsibility of the State, he said delays in the release of Central funds hinder rehabilitation in disaster-prone areas.