Page 2 - Northeast

Meghalaya launches shared school bus system, prime tourism vehicles schemes

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma launched the shared school bus system, prime tourism vehicles and agriculture response vehicle scheme. The chief minister on Wednesday flagged off shared school buses and hoped that it will help to minimise traffic congestion in Shillong. "A bus ride today with our students in the launch of the Shared School Bus System which we are hopeful to minimize traffic congestion & create a mode shift in school travel from private four-wheelers to school buses in Shillong city," Sangma tweeted on Wednesday. The buses are part of Sustainable Transport and Efficient Mobility Society (STEMS) programme focussed on mobility and overall transportation to decongest the city. The chief minister said the prime tourist vehicles are a step to improve the overall tourism sector and to provide good transportation services to tourists and at the same time provide job opportunities to our entrepreneurs. The Meghalaya government is providing financial assistance to ..

Arunachal govt to hand over five hydropower projects to two CPSUs

An official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that these five projects would require an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in next 5-7 years

74% dip in insurgency in Northeast, civilian deaths down by 89%: Minister

There has been a 74 per cent reduction in insurgency-related violence, 60 per cent reduction in attacks on security forces and 89 per cent decrease in civilian deaths in the Northeast, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday. Addressing a press conference here, the Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said about 8,000 youths, who were involved with insurgent groups, have surrendered and have joined the mainstream, welcoming a better future for themselves and their families. "There has been a 74 per cent reduction in insurgency incidents, 60 per cent reduction in incidents of attacks on security forces and 89 per cent reduction in civilian deaths in the Northeast," he said. Reddy said the development of the Northeast has been made a major priority by the central government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited the region more than 50 times in last eight years and 74 ministers have also visited the region over 400 times. "The Northeast was previou

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Manipur to inaugurate projects

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit to Manipur during which he will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of several projects in the northeastern state. Shah was received at the airport here by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education R K Ranjan and senior government and police officers. Shah will inaugurate the Churachandpur Medical College, the first medical college in the state on Friday. He will unveil the 120 feet statue of a polo player riding a pony being developed at Heingang Marjing Hill in Imphal East district. The Home minister will hoist the national flag at Heritage site of INA headquarters in Moirang area in Bishnupur district. Moirang village is where INA soldiers during the fag end of World War II hoisted the tri colour for the first time on Indian soil. Shah is also scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones of various other projects at Chingei Lampak area in Bishnup

Govt okays Rs 12,882-cr for continuation of Northeast's development schemes

The Centre has approved the continuation of schemes of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) with an outlay of Rs 12,882 crore for the balance period of the 15th Finance Commission (2022-23 to 2025-26). Addressing a press conference here, Minister for DoNER G Kishan Reddy said the decision to extend the approved schemes for the balance period of the 15th Finance Commission was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. This would enable better planning for the implementation of the schemes in terms of project selection and front-loading of projects during the scheme period, he said. Reddy said efforts will be made to conclude the maximum number of projects by 2025-26 so that there are minimum committed liabilities beyond that year. The minister said based on the Expenditure Finance Committee's (EFC) recommendations, the outlay for the North East Special Infrastructure Scheme (NESIDS) will be Rs 8,139.5 crore,

Insurgency reduced drastically in northeast in last few yrs: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has claimed that insurgent activities have reduced drastically in the Northeast in the last few years. He said several development works are being undertaken in the region under the Act East policy of the Centre. Insurgency has reduced drastically due to the proactive role played by the Centre as well as the states, he said while addressing a programme at Kumarghat in Unakoti district on Tuesday. He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stitched the eight states of the region in the quest for development and growth. Saha said he is in constant touch with Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditiya Scindia for starting international flight services between Agartala and Chittagong in Bangladesh.

Northeast youth now have computer in hand in place of guns: Centre

The Centre on Monday informed Parliament that since 2014 it has provided ample employment opportunities to the youth of the northeastern region

Peace, political stability in NE since Modi govt came to power: Minister

Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said there is peace and political stability in the North Eastern region since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government came to power at the Centre. In response to supplementaries during the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, the Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region also asserted that the government has done development works in the region and it was not "lip sympathy". While listing out various development initiatives implemented for the region, Reddy said that in the eight years since the Modi government came to power, there is peace and political stability in the North Eastern region, and people are ready to make investments. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned initiatives taken up by her ministry in response to certain remarks by an Opposition member. "Obviously, some words can raise a bit of worry. Certainly no lip service... I want to give one example which pertains to the finance ministry. "Before the last bud

Our focus is on improving physical, digital and social infra in NE: PM Modi

Highlighting the Centre's development push for the North East, PM Modi, who is on a visit to Agartala, asserted that the BJP-led double-engine govt's focus is on improving physical infra

Security deployment, prohibitory orders continue at Assam-Meghalaya border

Heavy security was deployed and prohibitory orders remained in force at the disputed area along the Assam-Meghalaya border, where six people were killed following violent clashes, even as travel restrictions between the two states continued for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday, officials said. An advisory was issued by the Assam Police, asking people to avoid travelling to the neighbouring state following the incident on Tuesday. The situation is still not completely peaceful in Meghalaya. There could be attacks on people or vehicles from Assam. Hence, we are asking people not to travel to that state, a police officer said. If at all someone has to travel, we have asked them to go by Meghalaya-registered vehicles, he said. Police barricades remained erected at Jorabat in Guwahati and Cachar district, the two main entry points from Assam into Meghalaya. No restrictions, however, were imposed on commercial vehicles like trucks, carrying goods and other items, the officer ...

Mamata Banerjee voices anguish over violence on Meghalaya-Assam border

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed anguish over the violence at a disputed Assam-Meghalaya border location that killed six people a day before and prayed for peace there. Six people, including a forest guard, were killed in the violence in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest personnel from Assam. "I am gravely anguished by the tragic instance of firing at Mukroh, Meghalaya, that claimed lives of 6 people. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this conflict. I earnestly pray that peace and calm prevails for the greater good," Banerjee said on Twitter. Notably, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the incident showed the 'ineptitude' of the Meghalaya government. Expressing shock over the incident, the TMC MP tweeted, "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the extremely unfortunate firing .

Centre to spend Rs 50,000 cr on infrastructure development of Arunachal: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the central government is going to spend Rs 50,000 crore in near future for the infrastructural development of Arunachal Pradesh. The Prime Minister, who inaugurated the Donyi Polo Airport at Hollangi near here and dedicated the 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station to the nation, underlined the natural beauty of Arunachal Pradesh and said that the state has great potential for tourism. He stressed the need for proper connectivity to remote areas of the state and said that 85 per cent of villages in Arunachal Pradesh are linked with Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. Giving the example of highway construction in remote and inaccessible areas, he said that another Rs 50,000 crore will be spent on the development of infrastructure in the large northeastern state. The development of the new airport will create huge opportunities in the field of cargo services. As a result, farmers of the state can now sell their produce to bigger markets, h

Rs 3-trillion road projects to be completed in Northeast by 2024: Gadkari

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that road projects worth around Rs 3 lakh crore will be completed in northeast by the end of 2024, in line with the BJP-led central government's commitment to improve connectivity the region. He also said that the Centre was ready to allocate projects worth another Rs 2 lakh crore for the region if issues related to land acquisition and forest clearances are timely resolved by the state governments. "If we take into account the projects that are underway or have been built, along with the upcoming ones, it would be worth around Rs 3 lakh crore. And all of these will be completed by 2024," Gadkari said, addressing a press meet here. Besides the major road projects, there are several projects being undertaken in the region for ropeways, bridges, logistics and wayside amenities, he added.

Gadkari approves Rs 68,000-cr road projects in four Northeastern states

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday approved a slew of new road projects, valued at Rs 68,000 crore, in four Northeastern states to make international standard surface connectivity. Addressing a late-night press conference after reviewing various national highway projects in the region, Gadkari said that new projects are worth Rs 50,000 crore for Assam, Rs 9,000 crore for Meghalaya, Rs 5,000 crore for Nagaland and Rs 4,000 crore for Sikkim were approved. "Our aim is to change the entire scenario of road transport in NE by 2024. We target to make roads of international standards in this region," he said.

IndiGo announces Itanagar as 75th domestic destination in 6E network

Travellers can explore the glacial lakes of Sangetser and Sela, meditate in the Taktsang Gompa, or go up the Gorichen Peak, which offers excellent views of the town below

Centre committed to development of eight jewels' of Northeast: Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that the central government is committed to undertake development of the North-Eastern (NE) region. She described the eight states of the region as 'Ashtratnas' (eight jewels) of India. "The Government of India has launched infrastructure projects to boost connectivity, education and agriculture sectors among others in the NE states, she said after virtually inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of a number of state and central projects in East and South Districts from here. Murmu, who is on a two-day visit to the northeastern state from Friday, said these projects will have a tremendous bearing on the economic growth and development of Sikkim, particularly the tourism sector which generates a lot of employment opportunities. She inaugurated the 1.13-kilometre-long Atal Setu connecting the Himalayan state with the rest of the country via West Bengal. It is a key strategic infrastructure for the country, Murmu said. Lauding Sikkim's .

Mizoram contributing to India's endeavour to engage with neighbours: Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu, who was in Mizoram on a two-day visit, said on Friday that the tribal majority state benefits from and makes contributions to the nation's endeavour to engage with neighbours in the region. Addressing a special assembly session here, she said that Mizoram can explore its past, find best governance practices from pre-modern days, and revive it within contemporary systems for the betterment of people. She also stated that the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, over the years, "has evolved into an effective instrument in finding solution to people's problem". Murmu stated that she was keen to see increased women's representation in public life, particularly among lawmakers. "The Centre's 'Act East Policy' places emphasis on the northeast for improving the country's ties with the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. Mizoram benefits from and also makes contributions to the nation's endeavour to engage with the neighbours in the region," she stated. M

President Droupadi Murmu begins maiden two-day visit to Mizoram today

President Droupadi Murmu will arrive in Mizoram on Thursday on her maiden two-day visit to the Northeastern state. Murmu is scheduled to land at the Lengpui airport near Aizawl at 1.50 pm, from where she will fly to Mizoram University (MZU) at Tanhril on the western outskirts of the state capital by helicopter to attend its convocation, officials said. More than 6,800 students will be conferred with degrees, including PhD (38) and M.Phil (six), they said. This is Murmu's first visit to Mizoram after becoming the president. She had visited the state for the presidential poll campaign on July 7. Murmu will inaugurate various education-related projects, including the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC-Aizawl), officials said. The president will also inaugurate and lay foundation stones of various projects of the Centre and the state government, they said. After gracing the MZU convocation, the president will also interact with woman students, and me

Govt is committed to celebrate vibrant cultural traditions of Northeast: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday that the Union Cabinet's decision to name the new airport in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh as Donyi Polo Airport reflects the government's commitment to celebrating the vibrant cultural traditions of the Northeast. The airport will improve connectivity and boost commerce as well as tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, he added. The Cabinet approved the naming of the greenfield airport at Hollongi in Itanagar. A resolution was passed by the Arunachal Pradesh government to name the airport as 'Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar'. It "reflects the people's reverence of the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo) to symbolise the traditions and rich cultural heritage of the state," according to an official statement. In another tweet, Modi said the raise in the price of ethanol used for blending in petrol is an important decision which will benefit those associated with the sugar industry and hardworking sugarcane farmers.

Despite rise in budgetary support, NE lags in job creation: Official

Despite the central government more than doubling budgetary support in the last eight years, the northeast region has lagged behind in economic output and job creation, an NEC official said here on Tuesday. Lakhs of youth from the region are going to other parts of the country for jobs, which implies that "something is amiss in terms of economic development", North Eastern Council Secretary K Moses Chalai said. In 2013-14, the total 10 per cent GBS (gross budgetary support) was around Rs 34,000 crore. This financial year, it has reached Rs 76,000 crore. "Despite this, the production and distribution of goods and services are not happening enough and there are not enough jobs, Chalai said, while speaking at a function at the North Eastern Hill University here. Fifty-five central ministries and departments are mandated to spend at least 10 per cent of their gross budgetary support (GBS) for the central sector and centrally sponsored schemes in the northeastern region to accelerate th