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| Major Events Vol. 3 Issue No. 20 | February 16 -28, 2007 |
‘Masterplan for road development in NE needed’ In the 10-point Shillong Declaration adopted recently has stressed that individual States of the North-East must address issues relating to security, forest, land acquisition and encroachment to develop roads in the region as an ‘indispensable requirement.’ The Shillong Declaration was adopted after the 2nd sectoral summit of the North Eastern Council here to review the road sector in the region. Development of this sector in the region has faced roadblocks pertaining to security, forest, land acquisition and encroachment. DoNER Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar asked the State Governments to take this singular point adopted in the Shillong Declaration as a ‘high priority.’ The Ministry of DoNER, NEC and the Northeastern States would collaborate in formulating a regional master plan for developing the road sector in the region. It would form part of NEC’s Vision 2020 document. At present, the North East’s share is 10 per cent from the total Central fund allocated for development of roads in the country. “This (Central fund allocation) is of a reasonable order,” the DoNER Minister pointed out. The Declaration, however, resolved to seek an increased fund allocation of Rs.50,000 crore for development of this sector in the 11th five-year plan. “This would be a substantial fund allocation increase for this sector,” Aiyar stated. He added, states must ensure that fund was kept aside, from its non-plan budget, for maintenance of roads. In this regard states were asked to emulate Mizoram, which has drafted the Mizoram Road Fund bill. Further, review of the cut-off point of 250 persons in an area for implementation of road projects from the Bharat Nirman (BN) programme would be taken up by NEC and DoNER. “The population structure is different in the region. At least, 5000 habitation remains uncovered under the BN programme. Review of this cut-off point would be taken up with concerned Ministries by DoNER and NEC,” Aiyar promised | Headlines | Editorial | Coverstory | | Travel Column | News Briefs | | OT Main Page | |
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