ADB, Nagaland govt discuss on feasibility of North East Industrial Corridor
DIMAPUR, JULY 11 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy held a meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) team and senior officers of some state departments on July 11 at the Conference Hall, Civil Secretariat, Kohima. The meeting was held in view of ADB conducting a feasibility study on the proposed North East Industrial Corridor.
According to a DIPR report, the ADB team at the meeting highlighted on its engagement with the North East Region especially on three main sectors-Transport, Urban and Energy. On Transport, they further highlighted on the proposed SASEC Road Transport Corridor Projects including Kohima- Kidima- Karong- Imphal section with a budget of 140 million dollars.
On Urban sector, the team highlighted on the North East Region Capital Cities Development Investment program with an approved amount of 200 million dollars which would assist in achieving improved environment and well-being of urban residents in Agartala, Aizawl, Gangtok, Kohima and Shillong. The ADB team also mentioned other numerous projects concerning India, Myanmar, Burma and Nepal.
CEO of Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Alemtemshi Jamir expressed the need to focus on educational institutes to facilitate trades, and also the issue of water in the state. Stating that all trades are concentrated at Moreh- Imphal sector area as far as border trade is concerned, he emphasized on opening up the northern trade centres like Avangkhu through ADB. He said only through opening up of northern border stability will develop.
Discussion was also made on the need to bring both Myanmar and India together to make a concrete decision instead of planning through GPS. The need to build hospitals and educational institutes in the border areas was also discussed in order to open up trade.
Chief Secretary Toy, in his concluding remark said the ADB team would help identify as well as prepare project report and also take up the North East Industrial Corridor. He also expressed the need to connect at least some of the border trading points through Eastern Expressway.
He mentioned that trade doesn't happen because facilities are not there.
The Chief Secretary also dwelt on the importance of coffee plantation in the state in agricultural sector and the potential of revival of paper mill because of abundance of raw material. Potential of mini power plant and funding of state's share for smart city were also shared by the Chief Secretary.
