Centre is keen on developing NE region : Regupathy

Aizawl, June 30 (UNI) Union Minister of state for Home Affairs S Regupathy today said the Centre is very keen in its vision plan to develop the North Eastern region within a couple of years.

Talking to UNI at the Raj Bhavan here, the minister said the Centre has already shown interest in calling all insurgent outfits, especially in the NE region to the negotiaing table for a peaceful settlement.

Mr Regupathy, who was here on a two-day visit to the state, said that after visiting Asom, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura it was clear the people in the region are interested in developing their states.

''The on-going Centres' peace process with ULFA would definetly lay a big platform for all development activities in NE,'' he said, adding ''once the major companies start investing in these area, NE would be a major investment zone within a couple of years''.

The minister also mentioned that on an average per year, the NE region gets about Rs 90 crores from Border Area Development programmes.

He said ''About 63 new projects has been implemented in the NE region during 2005 Non Lapsable funds''.

Mr Regupathy also urged both the Centre and the state governments to work out various new plans and schemes for the unemployment problem in the region.

UNI SNR SP PA ND1516