EMN
DIMAPUR, APRIL 11
Chief Minister Nagaland T.R. Zeliang attended the two-day 64th Plenary meeting of the North East Council (NEC) in New Delhi on April 9 -10. The meeting was attended by the Governors and Chief Ministers of the eight North eastern States and chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of DoNER, Dr. Jitendra Singh in his capacity as Chairman of NEC .
The Chief Minister welcomed the initiatives taken by the Minister DoNER and the Union Government for giving renewed focus on the North East and complimented the NEC for undertaking development projects, albeit with limited resources, in the State of Nagaland.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Minister of Nagaland highlighted that the present funding pattern of 90:10 for NEC, NLCPR and CSS schemes has become an impediment for implementation of projects and schemes as the North Eastern States lack the resources to provide the 10 % State share. He urged that since these States had practically no resources of their own, both the 90% as well as the 10% share were provided by the Government of India and hence it made no sense to have a 90:10 sharing pattern he appealed that either the schemes for special category States of the North East be made 100% funded the centre or the size of the schemes be reduced to only 90 as this would facilitate smooth and quick implementation of schemes and projects.
T R Zeliang while appreciating the Act East Policy of the Union Government, stated that the alignment of the rail link to connect India to South East Asia had been wrongly diverted to go via Silchar to Imphal and thereon to Moreh before entering Myannmar whereas it should have been routed from Dhansiripar (Assam) to Karong (Manipur) via Peren district to Imphal and hence to Moreh. He informed that this route had earlier been approved by the Government of India, and in fact the foundation laying at Karong was done by the Union Railway Minister many years back. The Chief Minister also highlighted that similarly, the East West corridor had been taken from Guwahati to Silchar. T R Zeliang said, it should have been taken along the traditional National Highway- 39 going from Guwahati to Numaligarh –Dimapur-Kohima-Imphal-Moreh. He expressed anguish that both these rail line and highway projects had been realigned on much longer routes and avoiding the State of Nagaland. He pleaded that there should be a relook at these two alignments. T R Zeliang further stressed the need for infrastructure development in the State of Nagaland and brought to the notice of the NEC that the feasibility study for the Greenfield Airport at Razaphema had been duly completed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and now the DPR for the Project needs to be expedited. He assured that necessary infrastructure for the Airport such as approached road and electricity and water lines would be made available by the State Government.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that there are several other issues which have been raised in his written statement circulated to the members.
In his concluded remarks, the Chief Minister stressed that the budgetary allocation of DoNER and NEC should be increased and that there should be greater involvement of the States in the planning and selection of projects for the State.
