NEC Allocates ₹79.53 Crore for Development Projects in Northeast India
Significant Funding for Northeast Development
File image of North Eastern Council office, in Shillong. (Photo:X)
Shillong, Nov 9: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has allocated ₹79.53 crore for various development initiatives across the Northeast in October.
Among the eight northeastern states, Meghalaya received the largest share of ₹26.56 crore, primarily directed towards the construction of the 46.08-km Chokpot-Kharukol road.
This project, funded under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme-Roads (NESIDS-Roads), aims to benefit 78 villages and over 15,000 residents.
Additionally, support was provided for the establishment of a Multi-Disciplinary Training-cum-Resource Centre in Shillong, as per the NEC's announcement.
The NEC, operating under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), disbursed these funds through its Schemes of NEC (SoNEC) and NESIDS-Roads.
The funded projects encompass areas such as connectivity, rural infrastructure, agriculture, enterprise development, education, and cultural preservation.
Assam received ₹14.79 crore for projects related to connectivity, livelihood, and heritage. This includes rural road connections like Mangaldoi-Mazikuchi and the Bogamati-Umananda link, along with an RCC bridge in Udalguri, a 20,000-litre dairy processing facility at Patacharkuchi, support for Deori tribal weavers in Lakhimpur, and the Sepoy Mutiny War Memorial in Hailakandi.
Arunachal Pradesh was allocated ₹11.18 crore, mainly for enhancing strategic road connectivity in border and remote regions. Projects include the Riaga-Sango road in Kra Daadi district and the 21-km Amuli-Athuni road via Leyaka Pass in Anini. Funds were also designated for a girls’ hostel at Donyi Polo Government College in Kamki.
Sikkim received ₹15.51 crore aimed at bolstering organic agriculture and veterinary healthcare, which involves upgrading district veterinary hospitals in Pakyong, Soreng, Mangan, and Gyalshing into modern polyclinics.
Nagaland was granted ₹7.99 crore for projects focusing on enterprise development, trade facilitation, mineral-resource assessment, and road connectivity. This includes a proposed Supercritical Extraction Unit and Community Trade Link Centre at Jalukie, along with the upgrade of the Lampong Sheanghah-Nyasa road in Mon district.
Tripura was allocated ₹3.50 crore to set up the Agar International Trade and Research Centre, aimed at enhancing commercial value chains in the agarwood sector. Support was also provided for research documenting the contributions of tribal freedom fighters.
In Manipur and Mizoram, funding was directed towards road projects, a bridge over the Leimakhong River, infrastructure for the Barak Heritage Festival in Senapati, facilities at Oriental College in Imphal West, a jaggery processing centre at Phulpui, and a market at West Phaileng.
Alongside the new fund releases, several projects across the region were completed or formally closed in October, covering infrastructure, scientific research, agriculture, livelihood promotion, education, and cultural preservation, as stated by the NEC.
In Meghalaya, the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, completed the design and development of low-cost laboratory instruments.
In Arunachal Pradesh, a 6-km strategic road linking BRTF Road to Pidi in West Siang was completed at a cost of ₹19.55 crore, enhancing access to the Mechukha area. A mini football stadium at Chowkham in Namsai district was also made operational, according to the NEC.
Assam has seen advancements in scientific and rural development, with the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat, commissioning an expanded tissue-culture laboratory that has increased its bamboo tissue-culture capacity from 3,000 to 30,000 plantlets.
Other completed initiatives in Assam include the integrated development of Socheng Development Block in West Karbi Anglong, provision of essential services at Rongmongwe Block in Karbi Anglong, and the development of a high-tech horticulture nursery.
Nagaland completed capacity-building initiatives in post-harvest rubber-sheet processing and commercial fruit-wine making, while Mizoram finished constructing the Aizawl Institute of Art and Music at Tuivamit Tlang.
In Manipur, heritage conservation efforts were finalized at the historic Panam Ningthou Immortal Fire and ancient monuments in Andro. The strengthening of Hindi sections in 10 government colleges was also completed.
The NEC also supported the recently held North East Bankers Conclave 3.0 in Aizawl, which focused on financing major projects and improving institutional credit access for micro, small, and medium enterprises, Farmer Producer Organisations, and women’s self-help groups across the eight northeastern states.