Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Connectivity crucial to NE: 12th Plan

By Spl CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, Dec 28 � The draft 12th Five Year Plan has identified connectivity as crucial to the Northeastern region, both between the States and Myanmar and Bangladesh.

�We are working on a multi-modal connection through Ashuganj in Bangladesh to Tripura and the Sithwe�Kaladan River Project to Lunglei in Mizoram. We need to energise the reconditioning and reconnections of the other road networks through Moreh (Manipur) and Ledo (Assam) to Myanmar.

This can then link up further to Thailand and to the road network system in South East Asia. Our development partners including Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) are likely to be supportive of this, the draft document prepared by Planning Commission said.

A special effort is needed to speed up road connectivity in North East and other Special Category States. A good start has been made in the SARDP-NE in the Eleventh Plan and this needs to be pursued with greater vigour in the Twelfth Plan. Enhanced connectivity of the North East should be a high priority. This is also true for districts affected by Left-wing extremism, the plan document said.

Meanwhile, it has been recommended in the draft plan that Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), which is announced every five years should encourage exports from the Northeastern Region, given its special place in India�s economy.

The draft plan also mentions the India�Bangladesh Trade Relations, pointing out those India-Bangladesh relations intensified during the year. The draft noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishment of border haats at Baliamari-Kalaichar and Lauwaghar-Balat at Meghalaya, India�Bangladesh border was signed on 2010. The first border haat at Kalaichar was inaugurated in 2011 and both the border haats are now operational.

Next Story