MPs flag under-utilisation of funds meant for NE states

Several MPs on Tuesday raised concerns over under-utilisation of funds earmarked for the North East during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, sources said.
The panel met to examine the Demands for Grants 2026–27 for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). Members cutting across party lines reportedly said allocations for the region were not being fully spent.
According to sources, Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Derek O’Brien (TMC) and Naveen Jindal (BJP) were among those who flagged the issue. A letter was also submitted to the chairperson by the Trinamool Congress.
MPs claimed that 41 per cent of DoNER’s budget remained unutilised in 2024-25 and 36 per cent in 2025-26. The letter further highlighted gaps in the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, alleging that nearly 75 per cent of intended beneficiaries were yet to be covered. It also pointed out that about 25 per cent of sanctioned posts in the DoNER ministry remain vacant and cited pending central disaster relief funds of around Rs 53,696 crore owed to West Bengal.
Panel chairperson Radha Mohan Das Agrawal directed officials to respond within three days and said the TMC’s letter would be forwarded to the Home Ministry. MPs also sought a separate note on fund utilisation for Manipur. For 2026-27, Rs 6,812.3 crore has been allocated to DoNER.