Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Mani Shankar Aiyar on Wednesday termed the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) recommendation to abolish his ministry as unfortunate and said the Centre should instead increase its budget. The ARC, headed by former Karnataka Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily, had recommended abolition of the ministry and suggested that responsibility for development of the region be restored to the Home Ministry. "The chief ministers of all Northeastern states agree that the budget of the ministry must be increased instead of abolishing the ministry. This is subject to the clarification of the duty and responsibility of the ministry and its relation with The North East Council (NEC),' he said, regretting that Moily did not consult him before making the recommendation. A Group of Ministers headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is now examining the ARC recommendations, he said. "We will also make the details of our views known in that forum,' the minister added. Talking about the funds from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), Aiyar said the fund should be given directly to the ministry instead of being routed through the Finance Ministry. "Why should the Finance Ministry give grants from NLCPR to the DoNER Ministry? The DoNER Ministry has a meagre budget allocation and a huge committed liability till date,' he said.