Massive Central Investment in physical infrastructure needed: Dr Roy

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy today emphasised the need for massive Central Investment in physical infrastructure in the North-Eastern region during the Eleventh Plan period.

Speaking at the 52nd National Development Council meeting here, Dr Roy said without this, balanced regional development will remain a distant dream.

Citing the poor infrastructure in the state to sustain and support a high level of growth, Dr Roy pointed out that though the country had achieved a growth rate of 7.2 per cent in the tenth plan, the growth rate of Meghalaya has been only six per cent, as compared to 7.8 per cent in the Ninth plan.

The overall projected growth for the country in the eleventh plan is nine per cent. In the case of Meghalaya, it has been fixed at 7.2 per cent.

Dr Roy said apart from the special problems such as poor connectivity, hilly and inhospitable terrain, poor infrastructure sparse population dencity, lack of skills and law and order problems identified in the Approach Paper, the other key issue was that of power which was suffering a current deficit of 300 MW and still growing.

The cost of providing physical and social infrastructure like roads, electricity, health care, primary education, potable and drinking water is very high in the state, which calls for high allocation of resources including manpower.

Dr Roy welcomed the Public Private Apporach towards the problem of infrastructure but said that the economy and the quantum of business available in a small state like Meghalaya will not prove very attractive to private enterprise.

''Our experience so far does not encourage us to believe that private enterprise will be forthcoming in areas like road and irrigation in the next few years. Therefore, the public sector must take a lead in the creation of such infrastructure,'' he said.

Referring to the vision of the Eleventh Plan approach which is based on faster, more broad based and inclusive growth, the Deputy Chief Minister said for Meghalaya, inclusive growth would mean an agenda that addresses intra state disparity in infrastructure and human development index across districts and communities.

Dr Roy requested coverage of all districts of Meghalaya under NREGA, wider coverage of poor families under TPDS through liberalising entitlement norms, adding commodities like pulses and extending midday meal to private schools in the tribal and hilly areas.

''Apart from addressing the issue of poverty, these steps would also address the demand side of agriculture and basic services,'' he added.

Dr Roy said industrialisation in Meghalaya had picked up quite a bit since the announcement of the Central Government's Industrial Policy for the North-East. At present, there are a total of 108 large and medium industries involving an investment of Rs 511 crores.

A complete policy framework is required to increase formal trade with Bangladesh including sizeable import with Meghalaya.

With the fence being erected all along the Indo-Bangla border, trade is likely to be affected since people who take part in informal trade are not equipped to undertake formal trade through permitted routes.

''We anticipate a severe economic crises in the border villages when the fencing is fully in place. A special livelihood, infrastructure and security based engagement of border villages is urgently required to be put in place,'' Dr Roy said.

Dr Roy said the Centre should facilitate the entry of established Laboratories/Commercial organisation for inventory, conservation, management and resource based economic activity and also consider helping the state set up a rain water harvesting mission.

He welcomed the importance given in the Approach Paper to vocational training to make people employable and said generation of employment, particularly in the rural areas is the top priority of the state.

UNI SHB AT VV1820