GUWAHATI, May 27 � The Centre has announced a Rs 200-crore package for various infrastructure projects in Assam, besides sanctioning a Rs 125-crore Organic Farming Mission for the entire north-eastern region.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh told reporters here today that the projects were mostly related to water supply schemes and roads.
�We are launching Rs 200-crore worth of projects for Assam. These projects are specifically formulated keeping in mind the needs of the State. The projects have been decided on the basis of priority accorded by the State government,� Singh said.
The Minister said that another Rs 125 crore was being allocated for an Organic Farming Mission for the entire North-east.
�It will be shaped on the Anand cooperative model of Gujarat and a detailed project report has already been sent to various ministries for their suggestions,� Singh said.
He said the initial focus of the organic farm project would be on a few varieties of fruits and cardamom, and later it would be expanded to other products.
Singh said his Ministry was formulating a �Make in North East� model in line with the �Make in India� initiative, with a view to promoting the �Act East Policy� of the Union government.
The Minister said that a separate road corporation for the North-east was being mooted taking into account the region�s specific geography.
Speaking about the new initiatives of the Central government, Singh said that in order to bring the Ministry closer to the people, a scheme called �DoNER at Doorstep� was launched earlier this year wherein DoNER officials would visit one north-eastern state by rotation every month and set up �camp secretariats� for better interaction with state governments, local officials and citizens.
�Secondly, a roster has been developed, wherein around eight ministers will travel to the North-east every fortnight to have an assessment and feedback of the states� plans and policies,� he said.
The Minister also stated that the matter of upgradation of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport was taken up by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during a meeting between them this morning and added that the DoNER Ministry was committed to taking up the matter with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, along with upgradation of airports of other north-eastern states, so as to improve intra-regional connectivity.
�Direct flights from Delhi to Nagaland have just been started and we are now mooting a direct flight between Delhi and Mizoram,� Singh said.
He said the website of the DoNER ministry had been updated and a free toll free number installed for suggestions and comments. Maximum emphasis was being put on transparency, Singh added.
