EMN
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 4
RAJYA Sabha member Khekiho Zhomomi and Lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio have received invitations from Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh for a meeting on December 19 in New Delhi to discuss matters related to development projects in Nagaland. Well placed sources informed Eastern Mirror that both the MPs from the State will be participating in the meeting.
The sources said all the 39 MPs from the North East region have also been invited by the DoNER minister to discuss on the development projects in their respective states.
Meanwhile, a report in The Telegraph said Dr Jitendra Singh was earnestly looking forward to seek the cooperation and inputs from the MPs hailing from the North-East for a smooth, result-oriented and meaningful functioning of the DoNER Ministry.
The report also said the DoNER minister of State has also requested each of the North-east MPs to submit their preferences and priorities for the ongoing as well as prospective projects in the region.
Dr Jitendra Singh said development of the North-East is high on the agenda of the BJP-led Government as well as of the Prime Minister. He added that future thrust will be on improving the road and rail connectivity, generating jobs for youths and innovative initiatives seeking to bridge the diversity between the eastern part of India and the rest of the country, the report of The Telegraph added.
Meanwhile, in reply to a Lok Sabha question, admitting that development activities in the North Eastern States were slow, the Ministry of DoNER held land law-and-order problem, delay in land acquisition and forest clearances as responsible for the delay.
The highest number of 199 projects have been delayed in Assam under NLCPR and NEC, followed by 100 projects in Arunachal Pradesh. In all, 708 projects have been delayed in the NE states under the NLCPR and NEC, the Minister revealed.
Meanwhile, the NE states may be clamouring about fund crunch, but the Non-Lapsable Pool of Resources is flush with funds estimated at Rs 23,210.50 crore till last year. Quoting figures from the Union Finance Ministry, Dr Singh said that Rs 10,411.87 crore has been utilised and balance Rs 12,769.04 crore is available in the Pool, the national daily further reported.
