No money diverted for NLUP, says Mizo govt

Aizawl, Sep 19 (PTI) Mizoram government today denied that any fund for maintenance of National Highways and other roads was diverted implement the Congress government's New Land Use Policy (NLUP).Of the Rs 1700 crore plan outlay this year, the state government has utilised Rs 238 for NLUP leaving various funds, especially road maintenance fund of the state PWD, cash starved, opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) had alleged.However, an official statement said the NLUP fund to the tune of Rs 2873.13 crore was allocated separately and not diverted from the play outlay.The fund provided for the NLUP were utilised as per the sanction order of the Department of Expenditure, Plan Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, the statement said.Outgoing Engineer-in-Chief of the state PWD Liansanga also, in a press conference, recently alleged that more than Rs 32 crore allocated for road maintenance was diverted by the state finance department.The NLUP was designed to transform the state economy focusing on inclusive growth and poverty alleviation.