GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that the Centre was withholding around Rs 17,000 crore dues, including oil royalty to the state, which he claimed was affecting the development programmes.
"Had the Centre not withheld around Rs 17,000 crore dues of oil royalty and other developmental funds meant for Assam, the state government could have pursued its development agenda more vigorously," Gogoi said in an official release.
The Centre's cut in funds for rural development schemes like AY and MGNREGA indicates NDA government's "anti-poor and pro-capitalists stance", he alleged.
Gogoi said though change in funding pattern and the resultant reduction in fund flow has an impact on the state's development, the Assam government is devising a mechanism to generate its independent sources of revenue.
"Irrespective of the Centre's indifferent attitude towards Assam and its people and reduction of developmental funds, the state government will continue to pursue welfare schemes along with its development agenda rigorously," he said.
Gogoi said in spite of the Centre's "indifferent" attitude, the state government has made giant leaps and moved to 7th position from 19th in composite development ranking.