Kohima, February 6 (DIPR): The Planning Commission of India (PCI) today met with representatives of the Government of Nagaland. The objective of the meeting was to highlight the plight of Nagaland State in managing with an annual allocation of Rs. 2000 crores in the State outlay of 2013-2014, including funds from the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resource & North Eastern Council. The meeting was held at Hotel Vivor here on February 5.
The major project proposals and discussions were about construction of highways and roads connecting the International Trade Centre of Pangsha, Lungwah and Avangkhu, Trans Eastern Nagaland Road from Mon to Avangkhu (280 km), extension of EW-NS National Highway corridor from Nowgong to Numaligarh-Dimapur-Imphal-Moreh (NH 37 and NH-29) which currently touches lower Assam only and the Indo-Myanmar border trade route with a vision to realize India’s ‘Look East Policy’ as well as aid the development process in Eastern Nagaland.
The Eastern Nagaland “package” which was included in the Annual Plan 2012-13 with a package of Rs. 300 crore was discussed by the State officials, appealing the Centre to release the fund as Special Plan Assistance for Eastern Nagaland to fulfill the commitment of addressing the development deficit in Eastern Nagaland.
The PCI was represented by Advisor Planning Commission, Brahmo Chaudhari and its member, Saumitra Chaudhari, who reviewed Nagaland’s Annual Plan 2013-14 in the meeting that was attended by all the AHODs and HODs. It was chaired by Commissioner & Secretary, Planning and Urban Development, E.M. Patton IA&AS. Chief Secretary, Banuo Z. Jamir IAS welcomed the guests and briefed them on the significance of the meeting.
The meeting saw the commitment to commence the construction of the railway line along the foot hills of Tizit-Dimapur-Jalukie and to revive the functionality of the existing railway line from Amguri-Tuli which would assist the revival process of NPPC Ltd. (Paper Mill) Tuli. The revival process of the Tuli paper mill is currently underway with the initial fund release of Rs. 100 crores and State Government actively recruiting technical staff. The State Government appealed the Centre to hasten the revival process of Nagaland’s lone paper mill.
It was also brought to the notice of the Centre to look into the urgent need for a medical college in the State. The demand of North East States stands that each district hospital be upgraded to a Medical College, for which sufficient central funds should be disbursed. The proposal to convert the existing SASRD, Medziphema into a full-fledged university was discussed at the meeting. The Department of Animal husbandry also presented its project ‘Nagaland Composite Pig Project’ with an abstract estimate cost of Rs. 157.31 crores with the aim to enhance wholesome meat production under organized sector with the direct participation of farmers.
