OREANDA-NEWS. The members of the consultative committee attached to the Ministry for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) in a meeting held here yesterday discussed the issues of promotion of Tourism, improvement of connectivity & other infrastructural projects in the region.

During the first meeting of the consultative committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for DoNER, the members were informed that the ministry needs the cooperation of the states for coordination of various projects in the region. The ministry could not organize the meetings of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) in the region for a long time & hence forth meeting will be held regularly by rotation in different state of the region, informed the Minister.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, informed the members that the ministry will take up the project “Make in North-East” on the lines of “Make in India” project announced by the Prime Minister. He said that the ministry is also arranging a Mega Festival in Delhi by involving NEC and NE States shortly. He also informed the members that the hostel facilities for NE students in Delhi is also being increased by constructing too more new hostels for them. There is also a proposal to set up a study center in Jawahar Lal Nehru university for students from the NE region.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State (I/C) for Sports & Youth Affairs informed the members that the main concern of the states is connectivity & infrastructural development. He also appreciated the initiative of the DoNER Ministry to arrange the visits for different Union Ministers to the North-Eastern Region & the camp offices of the ministry in different states by rotation. He, however, suggested that the projects in the region should be taken up as per the requirements of the states & should not be decided unilaterally.

Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs highlighted the issue of organic farming in the region. He said that the Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing the Bezbaruah committee report which has also recommended the setting up of world class convention center in Delhi for North-Eastern States. He mentioned that the problems of Power sector, Tourism & Civil Aviation are required to be coordinated with the concern ministries by Ministry of DoNER.

The members highlighted the issues of the region ranging from Tourism, Power, Roads, Civil Aviation, Organic Farming, Horticulture development, processing and packaging of fruits. They also informed about the difficulties in the formulation of detailed projects reports (DPR), implementation of the schemes & financial constants.

Earlier Sh. R. Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of DoNER made a presentation about the plan schemes in North-Eastern Region & the budget provision for the same. He also informed that the budget estimate of the ministry for the year 2015-16 is about Rs. 2150 crores.

S/Shri Neiphiu Rio, Purno Agitok Sangma, Rameswar Teli, Vincent H. Pala from the Lok Sabha, Sh. Ronald Sapa Tlau and Smt. Wansuk Syiem from the Rajya Sabha attended the meeting. Senior officers from the Ministry of DoNER and NEC were also present.