Dimapur, July 11 (EMN): The team from Asian Development Bank (ADB), who have been sent to Nagaland by the Union Ministry of Finance with the task of conducting a feasibility study on the proposed North East Industrial Corridor, held a meeting with Chief Secretary Temjen Toy and senior government officials in Kohima on Thursday.
According to a DIPR report, ADB team highlighted its engagement in the Northeast region, especially on the three sectors: transport, urban, and energy. “On transport, they further highlighted on proposed SASEC road transport corridor projects including Kohima-Kidima-Karong-Imphal section with a budget of $140 million.
“On urban sector, the team mentioned North East Region Capital Cities Development Investment programme with an approved amount of $ 200 million to assist the Northeast states in achieving improved environment and well-being of urban residents in Agartala, Aizawl, Gangtok, Kohima and Shillong. The ADB team also mentioned other numerous projects concerning India, Myanmar, Burma and Nepal,” it stated.
According to the report, the CEO of IDAN Alemtemshi Jamir stressed on the need to focus on educational institutes to facilitate trade. He said that all trade activities are concentrated at Moreh-Imphal sector; and emphasised on opening up the northern trade centres like Avangkhu through the ADB projects.
The need to construct hospitals and educational institutes in the border areas was also discussed, it stated.
Toy, in his concluding remarks, said that the ADB team would help identify projects as well as prepare reports. “He also expressed the need to connect at least some of the border trading points through Eastern Expressway. He mentioned that trade does not happen because facilities are not there.”
The chief secretary also mentioned the importance of coffee plantation in the state “and the potential of revival of Tuli Paper Mill because of abundance of raw material.”
