No development work in NE in past 70 years: Dharmendra Pradhan

Guwahati, Feb 9: Without naming Congress, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today slammed the past governments in Centre as well as North Eastern states for underdevelopment of the region, especially in the hydrocarbon sector.

"In the last 70 years, people are claiming of doing this or that. But the fact is students of Assam had to agitate for their own resources," Pradhan said pointing finger towards the Assam Agitation of 1979-1985.

Many committees have been formed over these years, but no work has been done for this region, he added.

Releasing the Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast India here just ahead of Assembly polls, the Minister said, "The region has given so much to India, now it is India's turn to return back."

In the last 70 years, all policies were Delhi-centric, but now the Narendra Modi government is making every policy at state level, he said.

Talking about the document, Pradhan said, "This is not a simple document, it is a promise from us. It is a Bible, it is a Gita."

He also said all families in North East will get LPG connection within next three years.

The Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast India said oil and natural gas output from the region will be doubled, besides ramping up the refining capacity, entailing an investment of Rs 1,30,000 crore over the next 15 years.

PTI