Shillong, April 22: Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy has said all the chief ministers of northeastern states will oppose the Union Government’s move to abolish the Ministry for Development of North East Region (DONER).

Roy told the Assembly on Monday that all the CMs of NE states will put it in this agenda during the forthcoming meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala on May 12. Meghalaya and other NE states would instead urge the Union Government to strengthen the ministry, he added.

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission had recommended the closing of the DONER ministry.

The Commission report was submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The report also recommended that all funds from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) be routed through NEC and not DONER.

Roy, however, said the ministry is of immense help towards the development of the region and its closing down would adversely affect the economy of the northeast region.