Dimapur, December 28 (MExN): Multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) is likely to allocate a total of 1.85 billion dollars for the less developed northeastern states in the next three years and Nagaland will also benefit from this fund allocation, according to reports. ADB has earmarked 250 million dollars aid for development of cities in the region, according to the bank’s India: Country Operations Business Plan for 2008-10. Under the Northeastern Region Capital Cities Development Investment Programme, the agency would provide funds to improve the quality of urban living conditions and enhance urban productivity.
The cities to be covered in this programme are Agartala (Tripura), Aizawl (Mizoram), Shillong (Meghalaya), Kohima (Nagaland), and Gangtok (Sikkim).
According to the Business Plan, the ADB would provide 550 million dollars to the northeastern region during 2009 for programmes like North East States Integrated Food Control and River Erosion Mitigation Project, Assam energy efficiency enhancement project, etc. For 2010, the ADB approved about 650 million dollars for funding projects which include North East Region Urban Development Investment Programme and North East National Highway Investment Programme.
In addition, during 2008 the multilateral agency would provide 100 million dollars for Assam Governance and Public Resource Management and 300 million dollars for roads development programmes. Under the Assam Governance Programme, the agency would provide funds to the state government to help it increase revenue and improve fiscal performance.
