GUWAHATI: Union minister of state for statistics and programmme implementation, Vijay Goel has said he discuss with the authorities at the Centre whether any rules could be framed to allow engagement of a bigger workforce in the Northeast so that infrastructure projects are completed on time.
“We were also informed that most engineers and labourers from outside the region do want to come here, as a result of which projects remain incomplete or get delayed. This aspect will be discussed as this region can only develop if projects are completed on time,” Goel told reporters here on Thursday, after reviewing the progress of infrastructure projects implemented by central agencies such as National Highways Authority of India, Railways and Oil India, in Assam.
The minister said he was apprised by representatives of the central agencies that infrastructure projects get delayed in the region also because of law and order issues, natural calamities like landslides among others.
In his reply, Goel while assuring full support from the Centre, directed the concerned agencies to provide a timeframe when the projects would be completed and to adhere to timely implementation.
The ministry of statistics and programmme implementation reviews projects worth Rs 1500 crore and above, examines the causes for delay in implementation and provides a report to the Centre.
Currently, work on 44 infrastructure projects worth Rs 50,000 crore is under way in Assam.
On the progress of the NHAI projects, it was informed to the minister that in the case of the East-West Corridor project in Assam covering 13 districts, four laning of 606.793 km out of 636.657 km, has been completed.
The remaining 29.864 Km is under progress, which is mostly in Dima Hasao district.
NHAI is constructing 130.09 Km of road in Dima Hasao district, out of which 106.280Km has been completed.
While reviewing the progress on the New Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Kamakhya doubling project, it was informed to the minister by NFR authorities that delay in getting the earth cutting permissions from district authorities affected timely completion.
Goel requested the state government to review the whole procedure so that the process could be simplified wherever possible.
He also reviewed the Rs 571.66 crore ‘Augmentation of Pumping Capacity of Barauni-Bongaigaon Phase II’ project being implemented by Oil India Ltd.
This project will enable Guwahati Refinery to get more imported crude oil for processing purpose.
Goel directed the officials of Oil India Limited to complete the project within the given timeframe.
The minister also stressed the need for regular meetings to look into and resolve the problems faced by the central sector PSUs in the state.
“All the projects and their progress in Northeast will be closely monitored and given utmost importance,” he said.