NE CMs' meet stresses on inclusive growth
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Dispur, August 21 2014: "Improved connectivity would not only bring about all-round development of the North East region but also bring the region closer to the mainstream" .

This was stated by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on the first day of the Conference of Chief Ministers of North Eastern States organised by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) at Assam Administrative Staff College herw today.

Gogoi said that improving the connectivity by developing road, railways, airways, inland water transport would usher in all-round development of the region as a whole.

He also emphasised on developing trade, transport and economic links with Bangladesh.

Assam Chief Minister pointed out that the North East required significant investment in infrastructure to enter into the next phase of development.

Gogoi attributed lack of infrastructure as one of the main problems in inter-state border areas and pleaded for a special package for development.

NE CMs' meet stresses on inclusive growth

Echoing the same sentiment, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh stated that the overall availability of funds with NEC has not been adequate to bring about coordinated and meaningful development in the region.

He observed that the administrative and financial procedure followed by the NEC needs to be reviewed.

Ibobi also stated, "The mechanism followed by DoNER in the sanction of projects needs overhauling" .

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki stressed on the need to increase better road connectivity in the State and thanked the Central Government for introduction of Naharlagun- New Delhi weekly express and Naharlagun- Guwahati daily intercity Express train in the Union Railway Budget 2014-15 .

He also emphasized on the making Stillwell Road from Pangsau Pass and Indo-Bhutan Road via Dongsengmang operational as part of the Look East Policy and urged for evolving a mechanism to keep adequate fund provision for maintenance of the assets of the States.

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang in his speech stressed on the need to improve air connectivity of all the North-Eastern States with New Delhi which will in turn help in developing the sense of belongingness.

He proposed that the funds available for NLCPR and NEC should be sub-allocated to the NE States upfront, at the beginning of the financial year to improve the process of selection and implementation of projects and opined that this would ensure speedier disbursement and allow the States to tailor concrete priorities.

The Nagaland Chief Minister also remarked, "Since the NLCPR and NEC funds are essentially meant for NE States or region, there should not be any need for the States to contribute 10% of the project cost" and added, "The NEC or the Ministry of DoNER should provide 100% funding" .

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar stressed on taking steps for improving the effectiveness of the functioning of NEC for the overall development of the North-Eastern Region.

He emphasized on the need of connecting all the North-Eastern states with Broad-gauge railway lines.

He also insisted on the need to have at least one proper airport in the State capitals of the NE region.

"There is an urgent need for transit and transshipment facility including road, rail and waterways connection through Bangladesh to North-East and Eastern India as well as access to Chittagong Port in Bangladesh", the Chief Minister emphasized.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla stated that the development of roads in the North East deserves the highest priority from both development and strategic needs.

He further emphasized on the continued and unabated financial problem being faced by the small, underdeveloped States of the North-Eastern region should be given utmost importance by the Centre for finding a long term solution to these problems.

Representing Meghalaya in the meeting, the State's Sports Minister Zenith Sangma opined that the budgetary allocation of the NEC should be increased for the overall growth and development of infrastructure of the entire North-Eastern region.

Representing Sikkim, the State's Health Care, Human Services and Family Welfare Minister AK Ghatani in his address stressed on the revision of guidelines for land acquisition.

He added, "The works taken up under NLCPR and NEC are widely publicized, however, since the guidelines do not allow land acquisition as a part of the project cost, the schemes are thus not truly funded in the 90:10% basis" .

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who was also present during the meeting, opined that this meeting will give a right direction to the North-Eastern States as well as the Centre to perform together.

He assured that the outcome of this meeting will be very much positive.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati in his speech assured of his all out support and co-operation with regards to the development of the aviation sector in the North-Eastern region.

He further reiterated on the present government's vision for the overall development of the North-Eastern States.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) General (Dr.) VK Singh in his concluding speech stated that all the North-Eastern States are unique in themselves and all the States should progress as a Region.

He also expressed his hope that the growth of the North-Eastern States will attract the rest of the states and captivate their attention.

Earlier during the day, Joint Secretary, Ministry of DoNER Vijay Bhushan Pathak gave a brief presentation on the aims and activities of the Ministry.

The meeting was attended by several MPs, Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries of various North-Eastern States and high level Central and State Government officials including Assam Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla.