SILCHAR, May 11 � The Barak Valley Economic Development Council Demand Committee (BVEDCDC) has repeated its demand for a separate economic development council for Barak Valley, justifying it on historical, geographical and socio-economic factors. In this regard, a meeting was organised at their office premises recently.
Kishore Kumar Bhattacharjee, president central committee said that the demand for council is for the welfare and betterment of 35 lakh people of this valley. He pointed out that a memorandum highlighting the charter of demands was submitted to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on April 3 last at his residence in Guwahati and he was impressed with the grounds for setting up the council.
Bhattacharjee further said that the Chief Minister assured that he would constitute an official-level committee to examine all the issues raised in the memorandum. Besides, copy of charter of demands was also submitted to JB Patnaik, Governor of Assam, as well as the leaders of different political parties with the request to press for constitution of a separate economic development council for the valley.
Bhattacharjee drew the attention of the State Government to the worst shape of roads and highways which stand in the way of even development of the landlocked region. Besides demanding expeditious repair and improvement of NHs 44, 50 and 54, he pressed for completion of Silchar-Lumding BG, and to be declared a national project. He also sought intervention of the Centre and the State for expediting the progress of East-West Corridor. As the valley has been reeling under acute power shortate, the memorandum also called for setting up thermal power plant.
The memorandum also demanded, among others, construction of multipurpose Barak dam, upgrading of irrigation facilities, setting up of micro, medium scale industries, modernization of tea industry.
