Conference Of Chief Ministers Of The NE States Begins At Guwahati

Guwahati, August 21: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said that, improved connectivity would not only bring about all-round development of the North East region but also bring the region closer to the mainstream.

During 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 in Guwahati 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.

Gogoi 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.

“Roads, railway projects and development of inland water transport need to be adequately funded to bring about inclusive development of the region,” he said.

Gogoi requested the Ministry of DoNER to take up with the Ministry of Railways to increase the frequency of trains to major cities.

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

The Assam Chief Minister called for upgradation of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport as a regional hub with proper night landing facility along with Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Silchar airports.

Gogoi requested the Ministry of DoNER to support the State in securing World Bank assistance for development of Inland Water Transport system.

Dwelling at length on the flood and erosion problem, Gogoi urged that the problem be treated as a national problem and included as an integral component of the National Flood Management Program.

“The constitution of Brahmaputra River Valley Authority and NEWRA are of paramount importance to the interest of the region. It would not only help in mitigating the perpetual flood and water related hazards in the region but also in proper utilisation of the vast water resources, hitherto unutilised so far,” he said.

Gogoi sought Ministry of DoNER's support for assistance from the World Bank for its comprehensive flood, erosion and river management plan.

On the power front, Gogoi said that the power scenario could be improved considerably through generation of hydro electricity.

“We need to generate electricity through hydel projects. We need to have flood moderation component in the dam structure to mitigate the adverse downstream impact,” he added.

Assam Chief Minister stressed on linking up the international internet gateway at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh with Guwahati to provide high speed internet connectivity, so vital for infrastructural support to the development of the Information Technology sector in the State.

Gogoi said that, the Ministry of DoNER should accord thrust on the development of micro and small scale cottage industries, sericulture, handloom, handicrafts and horticulture sectors.

“Our focused attention must be on those industries in which the State has huge potential, as development of the micro and small sectors would generate employment opportunities in a big way and usher in economic development of the State,” he said.

In the same breath, Gogoi said the tourism sector can play a pivotal role in creation of additional employment opportunities.

“Action to promote private entrepreneurs in the field of hospitality and other tourism related activities needs to be initiated on priority,” he added.

On the education sector, Chief Minister Gogoi stressed on the need for expansion of infrastructure in terms of quality institutions and manpower.

“The PPP mode has great potential in complementing the efforts of Government in this area,” he said.

Assam Chief Minister requested the Ministry of DoNER to provide Special Central Assistance to Sixth Schedule areas and a special economic package for infrastructure development of the autonomous and development councils.

Speaking on the occasion Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki stressed on the need to increase better road connectivity in the State.

He also 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.

Tuki further emphasized on the making Stillwell Road from Pangsau Pass and Indo-Bhutan Road via Dongsengmang operational as part of the Look East Policy.

The Chief Minister also urged on evolving a mechanism to keep adequate fund provision for maintenance of the assets of the States.

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

“The mechanism followed by DoNER in the sanction of projects needs overhauling,” Manipur CM said.

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

He further 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.

Zeliang further opined that this would ensure speedier disbursement and allow the States to tailor concrete priorities.

“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,” Zeliang said.

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.

The CM emphasised 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,” Tripura CM said.

On other hand, 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, 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”.

Ghatani stressed on vetting of DPRs should be done within a desirable time frame and as per written guidelines for the project components.

He further pointed out that obtaining Government of India forest clearance is a big hurdle and a time consuming process, for which the projects suffer.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on his speech 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 on 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.