New Delhi: A bill seeking to amend the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, by giving powers to the President of India to nominate for three years two non-official members and one Planning Commission member to the Council, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Union DoNER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar introduced the North-Eastern Council (Amendment) Bill, 2013, saying that it seeks to use the North-Eastern Council to discuss matters of common interest to the region and make recommendations.
The amendment in the Act seeks that the Council may discuss matters of common interest to the region that include economic and social planning, inter-state transport and communications and flood control projects and make recommendations.
The Bill seeks to include one member of the Planning Commission who is incharge of the North Eastern region and also two non-official members to be nominated by the President for a three-year period extendable for a further period not exceeding two years.
The North-Eastern Council was set up in 1972 by the North-Eastern Council Act, 1971, for securing balanced and coordinated development and effecting coordination among the seven North eastern states.
Later, Sikkim was also included under the North-Eastern Council (Amendment) Act, 2002. (PTI)