SHILLONG: Mawphlang MLA SK Sunn raised the issue of how serious is the government at the Centre to provide economic development to Northeast, while participating in the Commonwealth Conference India Region which was concluded on Wednesday at Dispur, Guwahati
The conference was inaugurated on October 8 by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
During the inaugural address, Mahajan stressed the need on the part of legislators to be equipped with authentic and up-to-date information on critical issues of governance, so that they could reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people on the floor of the House.
The conference discussed women empowerment, collective approach to resolve insurgency in the Northeast, skill development for sustainable growth of organic farming in the Northeast and connectivity for economic development.
Speakers, Ministers and MLAs of NE states attended the conference.
While participating in the discussion on the subject ‘Connectivity For Economic Development of NE Region’, Sunn, informed the gathering that all the eight states are regarded as special category states in view of hilly nature with difficult terrain, low population density with sizeable tribal population, strategic location along borders with neighboring countries, economic and infrastructure backwardness and non- viable nature of state finances.
Sunn said the constituency which he represents has Mawphlang-Balat road which connects the districts of East Khasi Hills and Southwest Khasi Hills and also leads to international border with Bangladesh.
The road was constructed in 1960s by the then government of the erstwhile undivided Assam. It is a state highway but of a single lane carriage way, he said.
“50 years has gone, the road remains the same and is getting worse as the villages located along this road do not have connectivity with any other road”, he said. Villagers who are mainly farmers are denied market- accessibility and they have to carry their agricultural produces by head load. Situation like this, he said, is common in Meghalaya and in all other states of Northeast. He wanted to know from the Centre on the fate of Mawphlang – Balat road. Considering the economic and infrastructure backwardness, the MLA inquired as to whether the government at the center can consider extending financial support to the states from Central Pool of Resources for taking up rural road connectivity by delegating the power to the state through state level scheme sanctioning committee with representative of the concerned minister as member.
“Whether road and rail connectivity can be considered by the Centre for linking Balughat in West Bengal with Mahendraganj in Meghalaya via Bangladesh having a distance of only 100 km away ?, he asked.
Mahendraganj to Guwahati alone is 300 km and to West Bengal via Siliguri, there is a considerable distance. A short cut via Bengladesh will save 500 km, he said.
He also wanted to know the status of proposal for construction of a bridge over Brahmaputra river from Dhubri in Assam to Phulbuari in West Garo Hills.
