Assam, Meghalaya CMs seek fresh push for EAPs in Northeast, Meghalaya seeks Rs 10,000 crore

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi and sought a renewed push for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) to accelerate development in the Northeast.

The meeting focused on increasing capital expenditure in the region and opening new channels of investment for physical and social infrastructure through EAPs, Sarma said.

"With an objective to increase capital expenditure into India's North East, I along with the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya Shri @SangmaConrad Ji had a very good meeting with the Hon'ble Finance Minister Smt @nsitharaman Ji," Sarma said in a social media post.

"We made a strong case to bring a new impetus to the pace of Externally Aided Projects in both of our states, which will open new investment channels for physical and social infrastructure," he said.

Sarma said Sitharaman responded positively to the proposals and assured the two chief ministers of a renewed push by the Centre to advance the development agenda in the region.

Sangma, in a separate social media post, said the discussions with Sitharaman covered matters relating to EAPs.

A senior Meghalaya Finance Department official said Sangma specifically sought an additional allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for the state under the EAP window.

The demand comes weeks after Sangma said Meghalaya was seeking an increase in its EAP allocation, which has remained at Rs 5,000 crore since the previous Finance Commission.

The chief minister had earlier said Meghalaya wanted to raise the allocation to Rs 15,000 crore, with an initial request to double the existing ceiling to Rs 10,000 crore.

Sangma has also said the state has performed well in implementing EAPs and that 90 per cent of the loans taken under the mechanism are serviced by the Centre.

EAPs allow states to access external assistance for development projects, with the Centre facilitating such funding arrangements.

The meeting comes as Assam and Meghalaya seek to step up infrastructure development and attract greater investment to support economic growth in the Northeast.

The chief ministers' push for greater EAP support also comes amid the Centre's broader focus on strengthening physical and social infrastructure in the region.