Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Shri P R Kyndiah has welcomed the budgetary provisions for the Ministry, saying “we are acting as a catalyst for the development of the region, and the allocation of Rs. 450 crore special package for highway development in the North East Region (NER) is a positive step”.
Shri Kyndiah was speaking after a meeting with the Mizoram Chief Minister, Shri Zoramthanga at his office today.
On the request of Shri Zoramthanga for assistance in fighting the menace of bamboo flowering in the State, Shri Kyndiah said that his ministry has from time to time assisted the State in construction of gravel roads to bamboo plantations. These roads are used to cut the bamboo shoots before flowering takes place. He said that the ministry would do its best to assist the state in this respect.
Detailing the budgetary provisions to the region, Shri Kyndiah said that the budget has given Rs. 406.5 crore to the NEC, Rs. 585 crore from the Central Pool of Resources, a grant of Rs. 22.33 crore to NEDFi and Rs. 50 crore to other programmes. He said the figures are not comparable with previous years since the loan components to the States are not shown in these figures.
Shri Kyndiah also pointed out that the 10% of plan budget of other ministers that has to be spent on the progress for the region would amount to Rs. 9308 crore for the year 2005-06.
(Release ID :7526)