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Lockdown in NE effectively enforced: Centre

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, April 3 - The Centre on Friday said that the lockdown in the northeastern States is being effectively enforced and that the region�s long international border (approx 5,500 km) has been effectively sealed.

Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh held a detailed review meeting by video conference with the officers of the ministry and North Eastern Council (NEC) and NEDFI in the light of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and measures being taken to fight the same in the region.

The ministry has sought projects for strengthening of the health infrastructure in northeastern region.

The States have been asked to submit their proposals by April 6.

The projects in health sector would be sanctioned on top priority, said official sources.

Sources said that as decided earlier the ministry has already sanctioned Rs 25 crore to northeastern States for gap funding to fight the COVID-19 outbreak effectively. This fund would be in the nature of untied fund, which can be utilised on any activity relating to COVID-19 pandemic, and not covered under existing Central packages.

The flexibility of untied funds would enable the States to respond quickly. This fund would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the Ministry of DoNER to the northeastern States under the existing schemes.

Under the scheme, Assam has been given the highest amount of Rs 5 crore followed by Rs 3.25 crore to Arunachal Pradesh and Rs 3 crore each to Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, while Sikkim was sanctioned Rs 1.75 crore.

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