AGARTALA, March 26 - DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that the Centre would release fund only after receiving the DPR for the Indo-Bangla railway project.
Dr Singh, who arrived here to attend a party programme, met Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in his office at the Civil Secretariat and held meeting on different issues.
�I spoke to the Chief Minister on different issues � law and order and progress of DoNER-sponsored projects. I assured him of giving full support to the State to speed up development activities,� he told the mediapersons after the meeting.
Dr Singh said, �Everybody wants the 15-km Indo-Bangla railway project to get completed at the earliest. While the DoNER will fund for laying track in Indian side, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will pump money to construct railway track in Bangladesh side.�
On being asked about the fund release, the DoNER Minister said that the Ministry is ready to release fund for the project. �The DoNER will release fund only after getting DPR for the Indo-Bangla rail link by the Railways,� he said.
On the inter-regional air connectivity, the Union Minister said that the Centre is putting effort to boost the air connectivity within the Northeast region. �At one point of time, we suggested introducing helicopter service among NE States, but it appears financially not viable. The issue is still pending with the DoNER and the Civil Aviation Ministry,� he clarified.
Heaping praise on the Narendra Modi-led Government�s Act East Policy, Dr Singh said that the UPA kept sleeping for 10 years with the �Look East Policy�.
�The Modi Government has already begun to act on the policy and exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India was follow-up action of the Act East Policy,� he added.
Dr Singh said that the Prime Minister himself is reviewing the development projects in Northeast region to ensure speedy implementation of projects.
Later, DoNER Minister addressed a BJP programme at Rabindra Bhavan where he criticised the Left Front government.
�There is an urgent need for a change to get rid of corruption, nepotism and malpractice. And, the BJP will bring a change in the 2018 Assembly elections,� he added.
State BJP unit president Biplab Deb and party�s senior leader Sunil Deodhar also remained present in the programme.
Journalists� conference: The journalists should take social responsibilities besides performing their professional activities, said DoNER minister Jitendra Singh.
After inaugurating a two-day annual State conference of Tripura Journalists� Union (TJU) and meeting of Northeast India Federation of Journalists� at Agartala Press Club here on Saturday, the Union Minister said, �Despite several constraints, the journalists have to struggle for their survive.�
The DoNER Minister also unveiled souvenir to mark the occasion.
MP Jitendra Choudhury, general secretary of Indian Journalists� Union D Amar, two members of Press Council of India Amar Kureshi and Prabhat Das, vice-president of IJU Gitartha Pathak and secretary of Northeast Federation of Journalists� Union Bedabrata Lahkar also remained present in the programme.
