Shillong: The 65th Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) which began at the State Convention Centre on the 26th, discussed a number of agenda for development of the region in the presence of its Chairman and Minister of State for DoNER, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Governors and Chief Ministers of the North Eastern states.
On the opening day of the two-day session, various agenda items, including developmental projects and action taken report on the 64th Plenary held in New Delhi last year, besides the Draft Annual Plan of NEC for 2016-17, were discussed by the members.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma expressed his happiness that the extension of runway for Umroi Airport was part of the agenda for discussion because the State has spent substantial amount on land acquisition and said that the villagers had willingly shifted from the area so that the runway could be expanded and the airport could be made fully operational. In this regard, Dr. Jitendra Singh remarked that Shillong being a sought after destination, the NEC had felt that the State should have a full fledged airport and had therefore taken up the extension of runway at Umroi Airport in its agenda for development.
North East as Organic Capital of the country, North Eastern Road Sector Development Scheme – upgradation and maintenance of orphan roads, inter-state roads, assistance for procurement of Agri-Horti produce, NE Tourism Development Council, Partial assistance to states/NGOs for setting up of an iconic skill centre infrastructure for North East youths, were among the agenda taken up for discussion on the first day.
Under North Eastern Road Sector Development Scheme, it was decided that one inter-state road in every state in the region would be taken up for development, even as some of the members also called for equitable distribution of NEC fund for all the North Eastern states.
Earlier during the day-long session, various departments and agencies gave presentations of their developmental projects related to livelihood, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and connectivity in the Northeast. A brief video presentation on the achievements of NEC, including its action plan for 2016-17, was also made by the NEC Secretary Ram Muivah on the occasion. (MIPR)
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