Centre to unveil new industrial policy for NE: Aiyar

Chennai, Mar 13 (UNI) The Centre will unveil a new industrial policy for the North Eastern states with provisions for capital subsidy and viability gap funding for power projects to help end insurgency in the region, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar, said here.

Talking to reporters here toda after inaugurating the ''North East Expo,'' organised by CII, Mr Aiyar who is also incharge of development of the North Eastern region said the new policy would be announced in the next few days.

The industrial policy would have provisions for capital subsidy and viability gap funding for hydro-electric and bio-mass fuel projects for electrification of the North Eastern States.

Observing that insurgency problems could be addressed through electrification, he said, ''We need to light up the North-East...

Insurgency will disappear.'' ''Though 62 per cent of the villages in the North East are electrified, only 24 per cent of the households have power,'' he said and added the power availability in the region would go up from the present 2,000 MW to 5000 MW in the next few years.

Expressing concern about trade restrictions with neighbouring countries as many of these states shared borders with China, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, Mr Aiyar said action should be initiated for facilitating trade with them.

UNI