Excelsior Correspondent
GUWAHATI, July 13: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that during the last two years of the Modi Government, the North-Eastern region had touched new heights of development and the DoNER Ministry had also reoriented itself with a number of improvisations. This has been possible primarily because of the high priority focus accorded to Northeast by none less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, he said.
Speaking at the inaugural conclave of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) chaired by BJP National President Amit Shah and attended, among others, by BJP National General Secretary (Org.) Ram Lal, BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav, Chief Minister Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister Nagaland T.R. Zeliang, Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh Kalikho Pul, Chief Minister Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling and leaders of NEDA leaders, Dr Jitendra Singh said that it was during the Modi regime of last two years that States like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, for the first time, came on the rail-map of India. Soon after the completion of two years of Modi Government on May 26 this year, on May 27 morning itself the Prime Minister visited Shillong and dedicated three important trains to the nation, including the first ever direct train between Kamakhya in Assam to Katra Vaishno Devi, in Jammu & Kashmir that will connect the two pilgrim towns of Devi Peeth of Maa Kamakhya and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. In addition, he said, a decision has been taken to extend broad gauge rail track to all States barring Sikkim, in near future. The rail track to Bangladesh from Tripura is also being funded by the DoNER Ministry, he added.
Giving a special impetus to road construction in the region, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways plans to construct National Highway road of over 1000 kms in the current year, mainly in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. Similarly, four-laning of road has been undertaken in important sectors, including Dimapur-Kohima, Imphal-Moreh and Aizawl-Tipong.
Not only this, Dr Jitendra Singh said, for the first time in the history of independent India, an exclusive regional road corporation has been set up for Northeast under the name “North East Road Sector Development Scheme” which will primarily concentrate on orphan roads between the States, for which budget of Rs.150 Cr has been earmarked for this year. At the same time, new waterways are also under construction, he added.
Carrying forward the spirit of Prime Minister’s “Startup India” programme, Dr Jitendra Singh said, NEDFI (North Eastern Development Finance Corporation) under DoNER Ministry has increased its annual budget from Rs. 30 Cr to Rs. 75 Cr, while capacity building and technical scheme for skill development has increased its budget from Rs.16 Cr to Rs. 72 Cr this year. In addition to the various incentives being provided to youth under PM’s “Startup India, Standup India” programme, DoNER has decided to give additional incentive of providing “Venture Fund” to youth who undertake a Startup initiative in Northeast, he said.
For the first time, Dr Jitendra Singh said, NESAC (North-Eastern Space Application Centre) in Shillong has been activated to use satellite imaging for urban development, road construction and agriculture. Simultaneously, 6 new agricultural colleges are being set up in Northeast. Organic scheme for Northeast is unique of its kind, said Dr Jitendra Singh and added that Rs. 450 Cr has been earmarked for it.
In Power Sector, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Rs. 9865 Cr has been earmarked for new power projects and the most important 726 MW Palatana Power Plant in Tripura was inaugurated by Prime Minister himself. In the telecom sector, Rs. 5336 Cr has been allocated for extending communication network.
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