RS. 3173.06 CRORES RELEASED FOR DEVELOPMENTAL
PROJECTS IN THE NORTH-EAST REGION; PM'S AGENDA MAKES HEADWAY
In a major initiative aimed at speedy and all-round
development of North-East, the Union Government has released a
sum of Rs 3,173.06 crores till August this year under the Prime
Minister’s Agenda for socio-economic development of North-Eastern
region.
The initiative envisages a total investment of
Rs. 9094 crore. It comprises 27 projects ranging from rural infrastructure
development projects, irrigation and educational infrastructure
development to strengthening of internal security, besides horticulture
and IT development etc.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Fund has
got the highest share. Of this Rs. 117.28 crores have been provided
for construction of 12 new National Highways encompassing 1962
kms to ensure better connectivity between the North-Eastern region
and the rest of the country. In order to provide a boost to information
technology in the region, Rs 220 crores have been sanctioned for
creation of computer information centers in 487 blocks. Rs 100.15
crores have already been disbursed under the project.
In order to tap the immense potential of hydro-power
projects, a total sum of Rs. 109.23 crores have been provided
for Teesta Hydel project and Loktak Downstream project. In addition,
Rs. 12.53 crores have been disbursed for electrification of 500
tribal villages and Rs. 52.00 crores have been provided for laying
electricity transmission and sub-transmission lines in the region.
As insurgency is a major problem in the region,
Rs. 273.80 were disbursed for expansion of security-related expenditure.
In addition, while Rs. 18.09 crores were provided for fencing
of Indo-Bangladesh border Phase-II, Rs. 118.32 crore were disbursed
for police modernization. Other major initiatives include provision
of Rs. 4.39 crores for export development fund; peace bonus to
Mizoram to the tune of Rs. 182.84 crores and disbursement of Rs.
4.10 crores for border town development etc
