GUWAHATI: The Centre has announced sanctioning of Rs 200 crore for various infrastructure projects in Assam, besides Rs 125-crore Organic Farming Mission for the entire Northeast.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh told reporters here on 27th May that the projects mostly pertained to water supply and roads.
‘We are launching Rs 200-crore worth of projects for Assam. These projects have been formulated keeping in mind the needs of the State. The projects have been decided on the basis of priority accorded by the State government,’ Singh said.
He said Rs 125 crore was also being allocated for an Organic Farming Mission in the region, which will be shaped on the Anand cooperative model and that a detailed project report has already been sent to various ministries for their suggestions.
Singh said the initial focus of the organic farm project would be on a few varieties of fruits and cardamom, and later it would be expanded to other products.
He also said that the DoNER Ministry was formulating a ‘Make in Northeast’ model in sync with the ‘Make in India’ initiative with a view to promoting the ‘Act East Policy’ of the Centre.
Further, to boost surface transport in the Northeast, the DoNER Ministry was also mulling setting up a separate road corporation for the region taking into account its geography.
The Minister said in order to bring people of the Northeast closer, a scheme called ‘DoNER at Doorstep’ was launched earlier this year wherein DoNER officials would visit one Northeastern State every month and set up ‘camp secretariats’ for better interaction with the State governments, local officials and citizens.
He said steps were also being taken to improve intra-regional air connectivity. (ENe)
