1300 KM of road to be upgraded in NER at a cost of Rs 1950 crore

New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked the States to prepare an exclusive annual plan to spend the funds earmarked for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) population.

States have been requested to keep the funds under separate budget head from the total state plan outlay, at least in the proportion of ST population to the total population of the State for development in tribal regions, Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah told the Members of Consultative Committee, attached to his Ministries, here today.

Inviting comments and suggestions of the Members on the Draft National Tribal Policy, Mr Kyndiah said the Ministry had already received a number of suggestions and comments from various quarters regarding the policy. Views of all stakeholders could be given due consideration for finalisation of other policies, he added.

Members were also informed that the Government was simultaneously working on the action plan to ensure effective and timely implementation of all targets and provisions of the policy. He expressed the hope that the policy would bring Scheduled Tribes at par with the rest of the population in terms of Human Development Index, socio-economic development and basic infrastructure facilities in their areas.

Briefing members about various initiatives being taken by the Government to improve connectivity in the North East Region (NER), Mr Kyndiah said the Ministry of DONER, together with the Asian Development Bank, has prepared Road Projects to upgrade about 1300 kms of roads in NER at a cost of Rs 1950 crore. Currently, 45 road projects are being funded by the North Eastern Council. Similarly, efforts are being made to upgrade air connectivity in the region. A detailed project report with the estimated cost of Rs 340 crore has been prepared for Pakyong Airport, Gangtok. A techno-economic feasibility study is being under taken for Chiethu airport, Kohima and Itanagar Airport. A decision has also been taken to increase the number of flights by Alliance Air to 73 per week from the first week of October. A similar increase by some other airlines would result in an increase of air seat capacity for the region from the existing 66,451 to 81,185, an increase of 14,734 seats from the first week of October.

He said intra region connectivity is critical for NER because of its typical geographical situation hence measures are being planned to improve it.

Members were also informed that the Ministry of Development of NER has initiated steps to improve the performance of NERAMAC, which in turn will help farmers of NER by procuring raw material for Cashew Processing Plant at Agartala. Besides, setting up of another cashew processing plant at Mankachar, Assam and restructuring and modernisation of pineapple juice concentration plant at Nalkata, Tripura have also been planned.

Participating in the discussion, members expressed concerns over the slow implementation of tribal welfare programmes. They stressed that clear cut directions should be given to the States in this regard and the proposed tribal policy should also include packages for industrial development in the tribal regions. The Members were of the opinion that private investment for the development of infrastructure in tribal areas should be encouraged and the Government should come out some with definite package for the purpose.Some of the members also demanded a change in population criteria for providing rural roads in NER. The meeting was attended by S/Shri Giridhar gomang, Baliram Kashyap, Babubhai K Katara, Khiren Rijiju, Rupchand Murmu, Baju Ban Riyan, Purno Agitok, Dilip Singh Judev and Shri Ongden Tshering Lepcha.

UNI BKS PB BS1745