Assam: In a recent Parliamentary response, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, revealed a significant disparity between the allocated and released funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) for the North Eastern Region (NER).
Out of the total Rs. 1142.08 crore allocated, only Rs. 221.81 crore has been released, amounting to a mere 19 percent. This slow disbursement of funds raises concerns about the effective implementation of the mission in the region, which aims to improve urban waste management and promote cleanliness.
Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi, who sought this information, also highlighted the slow pace of legacy waste remediation in Assam and questioned the government about the percentage of solid waste processed in the region, expressing concerns that it might be below 60% in some states.
While Minister Sahu provided a breakdown of the allocated funds, the slow release of funds remains a significant challenge for achieving the mission’s goals in the NER.
Below is the summary of allocated funds Vs funds released state-wise:
However, Bordoloi expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of fund releases, pointing out that less than 20 per cent of the allocated funds for the North East had been made available since 2021.
This delay in fund disbursement, Bordoloi argued, has hindered the effective implementation of the mission.