Connectivity in NE to improve after Alliance Air inducts 2nd plane: DoNER Minister
SHILLONG: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has approved a draft annual plan outlay of Rs 1,088.21 crore for the year 2015-16 to enable the Council to carry out its functions.
DoNER Minister and NEC chairman Dr Jitendra Singh gave the approval during the 63rd plenary meeting of the Council held here on Friday.
The proposals are tentative but these will enable the NEC secretariat to carry out its functions during the year till the next plenary is held where the final annual plan will be placed for approval, according to an NEC statement.
Transport and communication, agri and allied sector and power were allocated the maximum proposals accounting to 71.26 per cent of the plan outlay.
The NEC has submitted the Rs 1088.21 crore plan proposal for the year 2015-16 for and the sector-wise allocation proposed is based on the requirement of the sectors for 2015-16.
Speaking at the meeting, the DoNER minister asserted that the Northeastern states must utilize the funds even as he admitted that over 70 percent of the budget allocation of NEC remained unutilized during the current fiscal year.
He informed that connectivity in the Northeastern region would get a boost in the coming month as Alliance Air, which operates flights in the area, is likely to induct a second aircraft.
Singh also asserted that that NEC has been able to restore Alliance Air flights to Umroi, Lilabari, Silchar and Tezpur Airports by providing viability gap funding to Alliance Air
He was also open to the idea of reviving the idea of having a regional airline for remote areas with fixed wing aircraft for short take off and landing (STOL)
The Union minister also informed that Ministry of Road Transport Highways (MoRTH) has set up a National Highway Infrastructure Development Corp. Ltd (NHIDCL) for the NE with head office at Guwahati.
He said the move is aimed to speed up the development of roads in the NE region adding an amount of Rs 200 crore has been provided by the Ministry of DoNER in the current year’s budget for developing roads under the NE Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS).
The Members of the Council stressed upon the need to make the NEC more effective for preparation of regional plans and strategies and to ensure that there is balanced development of the entire region.
Friday’s plenary meet at the NEC secretariat here took place after a gap of 10 years and this was done keeping in mind the Act East Policy endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said.
The meeting was attended by Arunachal Pradesh Governor, Lt Gen. Nirbhay Sharma (retd.) and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya and Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang, Meghalaya Governor K.K. Paul and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Sikkim Governor Shriniwas Patil and Pawan Chamling besides Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
Assam Chief Tarun Gogoi and his Tripura counterpart Manik Sarkar could not make it.