By IANS,
Shillong : The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has given priority to upgrading connectivity and infrastructure in the north-eastern states and earmarked Rs.500 crore for it this fiscal, said Bijoy Krishna Handique, minister in charge of the region, here Wednesday.
“Under the Northeast Vision 2020, the ministry of development of north eastern region (DoNER) has chalked out a 100-day plan,” Handique said while addressing the meeting of northeast chief ministers.
“Implementation of developmental projects in the region is very important for all of us. Close coordination and joint efforts between the centre and all the eight states of the region are extremely important to realise the fruits of development,” he added.
Out of the eight north-eastern states, chief ministers of only four – Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya – attended the meeting. The other states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim – were represented by senior ministers.
“Under New Delhi’s �Look East Policy’, the DoNER ministry is making efforts to showcase the strengths of the north-eastern region to the neighbouring countries to attract foreign investment, set up new industries, boost tourism and expand trade and business,” Handique said.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said the region had for long been perceived as backward. “But the people of the north-east are second to none in their capacity to work hard,” he said.
“Restoration of rail and road transit through Bangladesh is a long standing demand of the people of the land-locked region. India should pursue the matter with Bangladesh government more vigorously,” Sarkar told the meeting.
Seven of the eight north-eastern states are surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China on three sides.
These states can only be accessed through Assam, but the roads pass through steep hilly terrain and have multiple hairpin bends.
If Dhaka provides land and water transit facilities to New Delhi, it would facilitate transport of goods from the rest of the country to the region through Bangladesh.