NEW DELHI, Sept 16 - Faced with fund crunch, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today sought Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley�s intervention, urging him to release the pending amount, due to Assam, under the Flood Management Programme.
The Chief Minister called on Jaitley at his official residence here and apprised him of the challenges posed by flood and erosion in the State. Sonowal informed him that release of money against 141 schemes would further help in speedy implementation of all the ongoing and proposed flood and erosion management projects in the State.
Sonowal also sought Jaitley�s help in the revival of the two paper mills of Assam under the Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited, highlighting the role played by these units for industrial development of both the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys. Sonowal informed Jaitley that shutdown of these units has had a cascading impact on the bamboo industry in the State and the entrepreneurs associated with it. Reminding the Finance Minister about the State�s pending plea for a revival package of Rs 1,800 crore for the paper mills, Sonowal also underscored that resumption of these units would augur well in employment generation.
Sonowal also called on Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and sought his ministry�s help for the promotion of bamboo and agro-based industries in Assam. The meeting that lasted for nearly 45 minutes focused on the State�s potential in organic industry. The Chief Minister also drew Prabhu�s attention of the State�s untapped potential in organic sector. �Be it the world famous tea, horticulture or other cash crops like ginger, Assam always holds the key in organic sector,� he later told newsmen.
Sonowal also requested Prabhu for introducing a suitable and flexible industrial policy in line with the earlier North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy for Assam. He also sought Prabhu�s help in getting an industrial policy to incentivise investment before the upcoming mega Global Investment Summit to be held in the State in February.
Sonowal urged Prabhu to pump in more resources for value addition to agricultural and horticultural products in the State. He also asked help from the Union Minister to infuse dynamism in Tocklai Tea Research Institute at Jorhat.
Acknowledging the huge potential of Assam, Prabhu reportedly informed Sonowal that his ministry would organise a national seminar to focus the inherent strengths of the State.
Earlier, the Chief Minister while inaugurating the Northeast Students and Youth Summit 2017, �Arunodoi�, at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) here this morning said if the youth of the region work with grit, determination and dedication, the Northeast will soon become an economic hub of India. He also urged the youth to take the opportunities available in the region and set their goals to make the Northeast the new engine of India�s growth.
Addressing the youth summit, Minister of State for DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh said there is a lot to learn from the Northeast and the people of this region have immensely contributed in the nation building process.
The two-day summit features seminars and talks which will host industry leaders, academicians, policy experts, retired diplomats and students. It will also feature various competitions and interactive sessions with famous personalities from the Northeast.
