The North-East - Projects and Development

[India101]

Shillong to have 5-star Taj hotel

Close on the heels of setting up a 5-star hotel in Guwahati, the Taj Group is now exploring the possibility of setting up another such hotel in Meghalaya. Vice president of Taj Hotel Resort and Palaces Rajiv Gujral had a meeting with Meghalaya chief minister DD Lapang in this regard recently.

Sources said that Gujral discussed the “prospect” of setting up a 5-star hotel “in and around” Shillong, the picturesque hill station. It is learnt that Lapang has asked the Taj Group to submit a formal proposal, indicating the places where it would be interested in making investments.

Due to gradual increase in business activities in Shillong, Gujral said that it was a “lucrative” place for investment in various sectors. However, he cited the absence of proper infrastructure for private sector to invest in the state. Sources said that Gujral has agreed to submit investment proposals soon and has asked for assistance of the state government in this regard.

The foundation stone of the Rs 95-crore 5-star hotel in Guwahati by Taj Group, Taj Vivanta, was laid by Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on March 9 in the presence of Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, among others.

The hotel will come up at Khanapra on GS Road, and would be spread over 4.5 acres. It is expected to be commissioned within two years.

[India101]

Bhutan – Assam Train and Air Links

Bhutan is keen to start flight operations on the Guwahati-Bhutan-Bangkok route and train services with Assam. “Flights between Bhutan and Guwahati as well as train services with Assam connecting a number of places will boost connectivity with India and give the much-needed fillip to trade, commerce and tourism,” said Bhutan Consul General in Kolkata Dasho Tsering Wangda to Eastern Panorama after emerging from a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the latter’s official residence in Guwahati recently. “My agenda is to revive the flow of tourists, students and patients to Assam,” Wangda said.
“The tour operators in Guwahati have given me positive feedback of the feasibility of starting Druk Air flights from Paro airport in Bhutan to Guwahati city,” he said on the sidelines of the meeting.
“Though the priority is to have rail connectivity between Hasimara in West Bengal and Phuentsholing in our country, Assam will also figure in our railway map,” Wangda pointed out.
While Hasimara and Phuentsholing will be connected by 18-kms of railway tracks, Pathsala, Rangiya and Chirang in Assam will be connected with Bhutan’s Nnaglam, Samdrupjhonkar and Gelephu. Tracks between Pathsala and Nnaglam will stretch to about 51-kms, while the Rangiya-Samdrupjhonkar will be 45 kms long and Chirang-Gelephu 40 kms. “Rail links will benefit both sides as it will increase the movement of people and goods thus boosting trade and commerce,” he added.
In 2005, Bhutan and India had agreed on conducting a feasibility study for rail connectivity between the two countries through West Bengal and Assam. The Rail India Technical and Economic Services had been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the study.
Mr. Wangda said that Bhutan wants to strengthen the relationship with its next door neighbour Assam. As a result of a great degree of stability in Assam, thousands of Bhutanese come to Assam for business purposes on a daily basis, especially in Chirang district. “We want to foster the centuries-old relationship between the people of Bhutan and Assam,” he said.
He also added that the Himalayan kingdom was willing to lift the travel restrictions imposed on its citizens, especially students and patients after Operation All Clear was launched against militant outfits ULFA and NDFB in 2003 to restore good relations with Assam. “We have to take risks now and withdraw the advisory,” said Mr. Wangda, adding that “The reason behind staying for a longer period of time is to assess the situation on the ground level so that relations can be improved substantially.”
Mr. Wangda said that Assam would benefit from any project taken up in Bhutan, especially along the borders and the Manas River. He requested the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Government of India on repairing the 40-km stretch of road from Samthebari near Dhalgaon in Assam to Bhutan. “The repair will enable Bhutan to move men and materials at a faster pace.” Chief Minister Gogoi assured him that he would take up the matter with the Government of India soon.
Mr. Wangda said that they were planning to form the Guwahati chapter of the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association, a forum to solve the problems between Assam and Bhutan. “This can later become the Assam Bhutan Chamber of Commerce,” he added. Plans are also afoot to have a Bhutan Consulate in Guwahati.
The Chief Minister said that Assam wanted to strengthen further relationships with Bhutan and that Bhutan could send its tourists, students and patients to Assam following remarkable improvement in the law and order situation.

[India101]

Industrial tycoons visualise Corporate Assam

Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi’s concerted efforts over the years to rope in big industrial honchos to Assam have finally paid off. The Who’s Who of the country’s financial spectrum: Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons Ltd, R.K. Krishna Kumar, Director, Tata Sons Ltd, M.S. Banga, President, Unilever, Rakesh Mittal, Vice-Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, V.N. Dhoot, Chairman, Videocon Group, B.M. Khaitan, Chairman, Eveready Industries, Shubhabrata Bhattacharya, Vice-President, Corporate Relations, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Naina Lal Kidwai, CEO, HSBC India and O.P. Bhatt, Chairman, SBI converged at the first meeting of the Assam Investment Advisory Board (AIAB) held recently at Dispur, their in depth discussion on an investment strategy for the state lasting for over two hours.
Emerging from the meeting, an elated Chief Minister along with Mr. Tata and other industrial bigwigs, who are members of AIAB, addressed a joint press conference. Chairman of Tata Group, Ratan Tata asserted that they were in Guwahati out of choice and because of the opportunities and potential in the state. “We are here because we have been drawn by the opportunities and potential of the state. Here is a new Assam. And we have committed ourselves to its development,” he said.
Mr. Tata described his visit to Guwahati as an eye-opener. “I had visited Assam a few years ago. But Guwahati has really changed,” he said.
Mr. Kumar of Tata group and Mr. Banga of Unilever said, “Our unit here is a vibrant one, employing around 4,000 people and producing 40,000 tonnes,” Banga said. Kumar said there has been a drastic change in Assam and “We are absolutely confident of doing business, with the scene very inspiring.”
“This is a great day for the people of Assam. Today, these top industrialists have come all the way and every one of them is committed to working for the development of the state. It is a commitment for inclusive growth with focus on the rural sector, which has been our Government’s thrust area,” said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.He however, admitted that there were bottlenecks like connectivity, power and manpower which need to be looked into.
State Industries and Commerce Minister, Pradyut Bordoloi said that the fact that several business bigwigs had attended the meeting was in itself a breakthrough. He said that the State Government hopes to bring in investments worth Rs.1,00,000 crore in the next five years for achieving economic growth and creating sustainable livelihood in the state.
India’s Former Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen said that the Look East Policy figured in the discussion of the board, which recognized the need to establish traditional links with South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The 19-member advisory board which includes members like J. Godrej, Chairman, Godrej and Boyce Group, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries and M.S. Swaminathan, founder Chairman of Swaminathan Research Foundation, will be evaluating and approving investment strategies, defining investment policies and guidelines, facilitating generation of investments, creating framework for reviewing and monitoring progress on agreed investment objectives, streamlining the investment process and suggesting modification based on investor feedback.
Mr. Tata proposed the setting up of a corpus fund of Rs.10 crore on a public-private partnership basis to start the investment secretariat and create infrastructure.
The Tata Housing Development Company Limited later signed two MoUs with the State Industries & Commerce Department for the creation of commercial spaces, IT parks, business hubs and the second with the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority for the setting up of commercial properties in the city.
Later in the day, Chief Minister Gogoi went on a foundation laying spree – two Tata projects – the Rs 95 crore five star premium Vivanta by Taj, Northeast’s first five-star hotel and then of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The Chief Minister inaugurated the first branch of HSBC in the region at Bhangagarh in the city. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the 30-bed Snehashish, the integrated childcare centre at the city’s Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in the presence of Mr. Tata.
For Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, it is a dream come true. “A good beginning has been made with the high and mighty in Corporate India and financial spectrum agreeing to become our ambassadors and promote brand Assam,” succinctly sums up Chief Minister Gogoi. And indeed it has come at a time with the Assembly polls slated for 2011.

[India101]

24x7 Water Supply by next year: Sarma

Tarun Gogoi lays the foundation stone
for the Guwahati West Water Supply
Project at Sadilpur on Wednesday.

April 7: The citizens of the city can hope to get round-the-clock water supply by next year.

Guwahati development department (GDD) minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the residents would get drinking water 24x7 at the turn of the tap by 2011.

The minister made this announcement while speaking at the foundation stone-laying function of the Rs 350-crore Guwahati West water supply project today. He said the project, to be executed by Gammon India, would be completed by May next year.

The project, which will produce 107 million litres of water per day (MLD), is the largest water supply scheme in the state so far.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi laid the foundation stone of the project at Sadilapur here today.

Of the total project cost of Rs 350 crore, Rs 200 crore has been released by the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the remaining amount of Rs 150 crore has been provided by the state government.

West Guwahati MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, East Guwahati MLA Robin Bordoloi, commissioner and secretary of Guwahati development department A.K. Bhutani, among others, were present at the function.

The project will cover areas on the western part of the city from Bharalumukh to LGBI airport. The Brahmaputra will be source of water and the intake point will located at West Kamakhya area. The water treatment plant of the project will be located at Sadilapur near Saraighat bridge.

The GDD minister said besides the Guwahati West project, the government would take up three more water supply schemes to meet the total requirement of safe drinking water in the entire Guwahati metropolitan area.

The other three projects are Guwahati Central water supply project, Guwahati East water supply project and North Guwahati water supply project.

“The work on the remaining three projects is likely to start from September this year,” Sarma said.

Drinking water crisis tops the list of civic woes in the city as many areas are yet to be covered by any water supply scheme.

At present, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), the Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the public health engineering (PHE) department together supply drinking water to around 30 per cent population in the city. Those who do not have access to the supply water have to depend on their own sources like tubewells, ring wells and bore wells.

[India101]

ADB to set up office in Guwahati

Guwahati, March 31: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will set up a project office here to enhance the processing and implementation of its various schemes in the region.

The office will be set up to provide capacity building support to the ongoing projects as well as the future ones in the states of the region.

The bank’s experience in the region since 2003 has shown that it takes much longer than initially anticipated to design and implement investment projects here.

Sources said the ADB would soon set up the office under the Multistate and Multisector Project Management Capacity Building technical assistance project.

The project will be executed in Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya where investment programmes are currently under implementation, and in Assam where the processing of the new project in the agriculture and natural resources sector is at an advanced stage.

The technical assistance will continue till February 2012.

The ADB has set up its office here because it would be relatively easy to access the other five states and the rest of the country.

The project support office will have project implementation specialists as well as support staff.

The team will provide expert assistance and logistical support to the ADB processing missions and project review missions. It will also help officials of the project executing agencies in advance project preparation activities such as feasibility studies, detailed project reports and detailed engineering design.

Emphasis will be given to project implementation by reviewing documents prior to submission to the ADB (such as bidding documents and bid evaluation reports).

as well as providing advice in contract awards, contract management, construction supervision, disbursement and financial audit.

The team will also provide assistance to the project executing agencies in setting up a project management system.

[India101]

Avani Atria Mall, Guwahati



Link

[India101]

Infinity East Mall, Guwahati



Link

[SarafIndian]

Agartala to be solar city

STAFF WRITER 12:46 HRS IST

Agartala, Apr 12 (PTI) Aiming at making the state capital a solar city, the Tripura government is preparing a report to make mandatory the use of this alternate form of energy.

"We have decided to make solar energy provision mandatory in buildings to make Agartala a solar city to keep it free from environmental pollution," Tripura Science, Technology and Environment Minister, Joy Gobinda Debroy said.

The present building rules would be changed to make use of solar energy mandatory in buildings to reduce dependence on conventional energy and make it environment friendly, he said, adding the rule would be applicable to private, government and commercial buildings.

With the Centre suggesting that northeastern state capitals would be among 60 cities countrywide to use solar energy, Debroy said the state government has started preparing a detailed project report and a survey would be undertaken in Agartala next month.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/605860_A...-be-solar-city

[sanjusky]

India to construct bridge over river Feni

Agartala: Decks have been cleared for construction of a bridge over Feni river along India- Bangladesh border in Tripura.The Government of Bangladesh has given its green signal for its construction to be carried out by India.

The bridge would connect Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura district with Ramgarh sub-division of Feni district of Bangladesh.On completion, the bridge would facilitate transportation of goods from Chittagong port, 75 km from Sabroom, to north-eastern India.During the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January, both the governments had decided to introduce border trade between Sabroom and Ramgarh

http://www.igovernment.in/site/india...ver-feni-37374

[sanjusky]

Tripura to introduce long ropeways for emergency essential items and patients to hospitals

The Tripura government has started setting up long rope-ways for emergency supply of essential commodities and sending patients to hospitals skirting the difficult road journeys across hills. It is first ever move to resolve the daunting problem of road connectivity in the remote hilly parts of the state. The State Tribal Welfare Department with Central assistance has already set up rope-way connecting the remote Saboal area in the Jampui hills with Kanchanpur sub divisional headquarter in bordering Mizoram.

The work on setting up ropeways for connecting remote hilly Jampui, Sakhantang, Longtarai, Atharomura, Barmura, Debtamura, Kalajhari and Dhalajhari is in progress. Every year the stateface problems in keeping the Public Distribution System (PDS) and health facilities operational in remote hilly areas during the monsoon due to lack of proper road connectivity.

Official sources said that each ropeway would be able to carry a load of five to ten tons. The ropeway would be used to supply essential commodities as well as to provide health facilities inremote villages. These would be handed over to the village committed and the villagers will be authorized to operate the ropeways. The ropeways to be driven by diesel would not be opento tourists or normal movement of people but only for emergencies, sources added.

Meanwhile, State Industry and Commerce Minister Mr. Pabitra Kar informed that Bangladesh has taken some initiative to increase export and import between Bangladesh and Tripura. Bangladesh had developed certain snags over pre-export inspection of goods.

However, in the course of the recent secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh in Delhi Tripura demanded, the earlier system of allowing free export of goods worth Rs. 5 lakhs could be resumed. He said that the issue could not be resolved finally but a decision would be taken soon. The lone issue on which both sides held clearly differing views was the construction of a bridge on the river Pheni in south Tripura by the government of India.

Referring the meeting Mr. Kar told media person that on the issue of early resumption bus service between Dhaka and Agartala, Bangladesh Commerce Secretary Mr. Sohel Ahmed Choudhury informed his Indian counterparts that his government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 38 crores for improving the thirteen km stretch of road from the Akhaura check post on the western outskirts of Agartala. The Agartala-Dhaka bus service had begun in July 2001 three months before the national assembly election in Bangladesh but after a dummy run no progress was made. Goaded by Tripura, the government of India has been pressing the issue with Bangladesh.

According to Mr. Kar, Bangladesh Commerce Secretary had agreed to propose to their government the early completion of the survey work for linking Akhaura and Agartala by rail as the work on the side of Tripura has already bee completed. Besides, Bangladesh government has agreed to upgrade facilities at the land custom office at Akhaura border check post as well as to set up advanced telecommunication network.

Sources said that both sides agreed that for the present Bangladesh government would not be able to provide direct transit facilities but might agree to the proposal that trucks and other vehicles of Bangladesh would transport Indian goods from Benapol in West Bengal to Tripura. �The government of India has however put certain conditions, which the Bangladesh government will consider before extending the facilities� sources, said.


http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.ph...7c9600effd9431

[indian soul]

Found this nice video of an upcoming mall in Guwahati.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Km_zZjLRM

Can't embed this for some reason, any help will be appreciated.

[indian soul]

Proposed integrated transport for Guwahati



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Source- http://gmda.co.in/

[sanjusky]

Small hydro plants planned for Assam, India


State owned power company Assam Power Project Development Corporation has signed agreements with Brahmaputra Infrapower and Agnipa Energo for the development of two small hydro power plants to be commissioned in April 2012, local media has reported.

According to reports, both projects are irrigation canal based schemes. The agreements will see Brahmaputra Infrapower help develop the 5MW Bordikorai project in Sontipur district, while Agnipa Energo will start work on the 2MW Pohumara project in Baksa, in the Indian state of Assam.


The Government of Assam is currently looking at further small hydro sites to help meet power deficits in the state
http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/st...ryCode=2056453

[sanjusky]

Shristi Infra to invest Rs 2,000 crore in three states

KOLKATA: Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation said Wednesday it would invest Rs.2,000 crore over the next three years in seven smaller
cities in three states. The money would be used to build integrated townships, healthcare facilities, hospitality and sports facilities, retail malls, logistics hubs and commercial and residential complexes in West Bengal, Tripura and Rajasthan, company director Hemant Kanoria told media persons here.

In West Bengal, the company - through its special purpose vehicle Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development Ltd set up in joint venture with Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) - was working in Asansol, Durgapur and Raniganj towns of Burdwan district.

Besides, it is constructing an international sports city at Haldia in East Midnapore district and a condominium in Krishnanagar of Nadia district.

For these projects, the company would make a fresh investment of Rs.1,500 crore in the state.

The company is also coming up with a mall and hospitality project spread over 8.5 acres in Udaipur, Rajasthan, by injecting Rs.500 crore.
In Tripura, the company would complete a shopping complex by investing Rs 25 crore.

Besides these projects, the company has floated another joint venture, Kanchan Janga Integrated Infrastructure Development Private Ltd in partnership with the West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, to develop an integrated industrial hub in Siliguri. The hub will comprise an industrial zone, IT Park, healthcare and educational facilities, residential complexes, commercial centres and sports and recreational activities spread over 124.5 acres.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/5921764.cms

[sanjusky]

Centre approves Meghalaya water schemes

SHILLONG: The Centre has approved 32 projects related to water conservation at a cost of Rs 126.94 crore in Meghalaya this year.

"The ministry has released Rs 9.1 crore for the schemes. Ninety per cent of the cost for construction of check dams and irrigation facilities would be borne by Centre and 10 per cent would be incurred by state government," state Director of Soil and Water Conservation A Syiem said at the launch of Central Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) at Jowai on Tuesday.

Syiem said eight projects for improvement of shifting cultivation covering an area of 4000 hectare with a project cost of Rs 4 crore was sanctioned and Rs 53 lakh has been released.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...ow/5976668.cms

[sanjusky]

Tipaimukh dam project going as planned: NHPC

New Delhi: NHPC, the country’s largest hydro power producer, today said that 1,500MW Tipaimukh Dam Project in Manipur is going ahead, despite objections from neighbouring Bangladesh which fears that rivers on its territory could be adversely impacted by the project.

“The Tipaimukh Project with an estimated cost of Rs 8,139 crore at September, 2008 price level would annually generate 3806 million units of power and is scheduled to be completed in a period of 87 months from the CCEA approval date,” NHPC CMD S K Garg told reporters at the company’s annual press conference.

He further said that recently a MoU has been signed amongst NHPC, SJVN Limited and Government of Manipur for formation of a joint venture company for implementation of the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydroelectric (Multipurpose) Project in Manipur. NHPC, SJVNL and Government of Manipur shall have a share holding of 69%, 26% and 5% respectively.

Regarding the objection to this project by Bangladesh, the NHPC CMD Garg said, “I have nothing to say. Our duty is only execution of this project.” Incorporated as a joint venture company, Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Corporation Limited will execute the 66 MW Loktak Downstream Project in Manipur with a share holding of 74 % by NHPC and 26% by Government of Manipur.

NHPC has also signed agreements for preparation of DPRs of Chamkharchhu-I (670 MW) and Kuri-Gongri (1800 MW) HE Projects in Bhutan with the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The other agreements are for taking up additional investigations and preparation of uipdated detailed project reports for 1200 MW Tamanthi HE. Project and 642 MW Shwezaye HE Project in Myanmar as consultancy assignments; implementation agreement with Government of Arunachal Pradesh for India’s largest hydroelectric project, the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower project.

NHPC DPRs of 600 MW Tawang-I & 800 MW Tawang-II in Arunachal Pradesh and 520 MW Teesta-IV in Sikkim to CEA for concurrence. CEA has accorded concurrence for Teesta-IV Project on 13th May 2010. It has adopted 8 more it is, 4 in J&K, 3 in Uttarakhand and 1 in Arunachal Pradesh, under National Skill Development Mission in addition to the 3 ITIs adopted earlier.


http://mizoramexpress.com/index.php/...-planned-nhpc/

[sanjusky]

Excerpts from the “Report to the People 2009-10” on Ministry OF Development of North East Region


The Northeast
1. Securing peace

A regional coordination mechanism, covering all the Northeastern states, for gathering, analyzing and disseminating intelligence has been set up at Shillong and has been operationalized with effect from 23rdFebruary 2010. A number of militant groups have laid down their arms and are prepared to discuss their demands with the government. A Government of India Representative has been appointed to hold talks with some of the militant groups from Assam and Meghalaya.

2. Infrastructure development in the Northeast Region

Roads - including the Trans-Arunachal Highway

The UPA government has been paying special attention to the development of national highways in the North-East region and 10 per cent of the total allocation is earmarked for that region. So far, about 596 km length has been completed during 2009-10. Development of roads & highways in Arunachal Pradesh involves about 2319 km of roads. Bids have already been received for four projects with a total length of 776 km. to be awarded shortly. The Trans-Arunachal Highway forms an important part of this initiative.

Railways
The capital cities of the North Eastern states are getting progressively connected by rail. Guwahati and Agartala are already connected. Projects for connecting the capitals of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have been taken up. The mega rail-cum-road bridge at Bogibeel, over river Brahmputra, which has been taken up will provide an important link between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Conversion of the metre gauge routes i.e. Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam, Badarpur-Kumarghat and Rangia-Murkongselek to broad gauge is being done on priority.

Air connectivity- infrastructure and services
Three greenfield airports have been approved, of which one at Pakyong in Sikkim, is already under construction involving a cost of Rs 264 crore. The development of Tezu airport, at a cost of Rs. 79.00 crore, has been approved during 2009-10. The project is being implemented by the Airports Authority of India. The airport will be ready for operations by March 2012. The viability gap funding to M/s. Alliance Air for providing air services in the North Eastern Region has been approved for the years 2010 and 2011 at a cost of Rs. 94.14 crore.

Waterways
A project of the Government of Mizoram for inland water transport development of Tlawng river has been sanctioned.

Power
The implementation of the Prime Minister’s package for lighting up all the villages on the international border in Arunachal Pradesh was started in 2009. A total of 1058 villages are to be covered under this project out of which 512 villages have already been covered by solar photovoltaic systems. 546 villages are to be covered by a total of 153 hydel projects, of which 80 villages have already been covered and work on the remaining is in progress.

Under RGGVY, 16 projects have been sanctioned for Rs. 537.69 crore for electrification of 2129 villages, intensive electrification of 1756 electrified villages and 40810 connections to BPL households. As on 31st March 2010, 215 villages have been electrified, 134 electrified villages have been intensively electrified and 967 electricity connections have been released to BPL households.

3. Addressing Special Needs

During the year, 97 infrastructure projects, at an estimated cost of Rs. 834.99 crore, were sanctioned under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR). Some of the major projects include construction of the Arunachal secretariat building, upgradation of facilities in 15 degree colleges, construction of the building for College of Agriculture in Tripura, improvement of Barpathar-Bokajan-Deithon-Chowkihola road (31km) in Karbi Anglong district in Assam, construction of double circuit line from Rongkhon to Ampati in Meghalaya and water supply schemes at 22 locations in the region. 36 projects were completed at a cost of Rs. 249.59 crore during the year.

During 2009-10, the total allocation by the Central Ministries/Departments for the North Eastern Region rose to Rs. 15,351 crore from Rs. 14,753 crore provided during 2008-09.

The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation has sanctioned new loans amounting to Rs. 332.41 crore. The total amount disbursed was Rs. 207.76 crore. The new projects will generate direct employment for more than 1600 people.

4. Assam Gas Cracker Project

The Assam Gas Cracker Project is expected to generate substantial downstream investment and employment in the region. The construction activities at project site are in full swing and Rs.744 crore has been spent till 31st March 2010. The project is scheduled for completion in April 2012.

5. Youth Mobilisation

As a part of capacity building and national integration for the North Eastern States, the first North East Youth Festival was organized at Kohima. About 1300 young persons from all over the country participated in the three day festival.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=62260

[zenith_suv]

sanjusky , you do an absolutly fantastic job of updating the north east development forums regulalrly.

Great Job !!!

[sanjusky]

Originally Posted by zenith_suv

sanjusky , you do an absolutly fantastic job of updating the north east development forums regulalrly.

Great Job !!!

Thanx Zenith_suv for your support.Its been long & overdue Our NE-states been going through phases ofunderdevelopment,ethnic unrest & activities of troubled neighbourhood.So its always nice to find developmental pojects coming through to those regions and empowering INDIA further.Thnx again. .

[sanjusky]

Burmese, Thai envoys to visit northeast India

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Burmese and Thai ambassadors to India met the minister of northeastern regional development in New Delhi recently to discuss trade, tourism and connectivity along the road under the huge Kaladan River transport project, but rights groups say such links are doing very little to help ordinary Burmese.

The envoys decided further talks would be held soon during the envoys’ visits to Northeastern states along Indo-Burmese border, a ministry official said on Monday.

The ambassadors from the Asean countries, Krit Kraichitti of Thailand and Kyi Thein of Burma, met Bijoy Krishna Handique, the minister of mines and development of the northeastern region (Doner) on May 26, an Indian government statement said.

“It’s a courtesy visit,” an official from the Ministry of Development of the Northeastern Region told Mizzima. “The Thailand and Burma ambassadors called up Shri Bijoy Krishna Handique for a meeting, and … came to the conclusion they would visit the Northeastern Region to explore the possibility of promoting tourism and trade in a two-phase visit.”

“The minister of mines and Doner would be co-ordinating the two-phased visit, which includes Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura in the first phase and Sikkim, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh on the second,” the ministry official said, referring to six of the country’s northeastern states.

The tour date was yet to be set and “will be finalised after consulting the respective ministers. We are hoping it will be in … August and September”, he said.

The Burmese ambassador gave Handique a report on the road linking Zokhta in Mizoram State with Setpytpin in Burma. He said Burma was acting on India’s request that development of the road be expedited, the statement said.

The road is part of the “Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project” financed by India, which aims to boost links between ports on India’s eastern seaboard and Sittwe in Arakan (Rakhine) State, Burma. From there goods will be shipped along the Kaladan River from its confluence near Sittwe to Paletwa in Chin State and by road to India’s Mizoram State, which will provide an alternate route for transport of goods to India’s landlocked northeast, according to the ministry’s website.

It will comprise 333 miles (539 kilometres) of waterways and 140 miles of roads. India and Burma signed the overall deal in April last year.

According to the official, measures to promote border trade were also discussed and a recent notice from India’s export-import watchdog, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, expanding permitted commodities for trade along the Indo-Burmese border, was also presented.

A list of 21 commodities had been allowed for trade with Burma but on May 12, the watchdog added 18 categories to the permitted items that included bicycle parts, life-saving drugs, fertilisers, spices, incense sticks, sugar, salt and stainless-steel utensils.

The meeting also aimed to build cultural ties. Last year Handique launched a cultural exchange programme that started with youth sport and music activities in the Northeastern Region and in December, a cultural troupe from Burma visited Kohima, Imphal and Guwahati, the capitals of Nagaland, Manipur and, home of the Assamese capital, Dispur, respectively. Abiogenesis, a band that fuses the traditional music of Nagaland with modern rock, performed at the National Theatre in Rangoon on May 28, and in Mandalay on May 30.

However India’s soft diplomacy with Burma keeps one eye firmly fixed on the latter’s natural energy resources. Indian government corporations such as ONGC and gas transporter GAIL (India) have secured stakes in gas-field development and onshore pipeline projects in Burma.

In recent years, Indo-Burmese relations have improved significantly as trade has increased. Indian companies such as Essar Group and the former National Hydroelectric Power Corporation known now as NHPC are among the top investors that have begun to capitalise on Burma’s abundance of natural resources.

Essar’s engineering subsidiary signed a contract with the Indian foreign ministry recently for dredging and construction of cargo barges to aid shipping along the Kaladan River, a section of the Kaladan transport project. The construction of the port at Sittwe was a major component of the deal. Essar said in a statement.

But certainly not all Burmese will benefit. Aung Marm Oo, director of the Arakan Rivers Network said in Chiang Mai, Thailand last November said that the proposed project, especially the dredging, would devastate livelihoods in Sittwe, Pongnakyun and Kyaukthaw townships in Arakan, while in Chin State, the people of Paletwa Township would also pay a heavy price.

“The first group to be affected is people who earn a living from fishing in the Kaladan River,” Aung Marm Oo said.

Essar said its responsibilities also included 120 kilometres of road to be built in Burma from the river terminal in Paletwa to the India-Burma border in the northeast, but that road construction would be under a separate contract.

NHPC projects have involved a number of hydropower schemes, such as the Tamanthi Dam in Sagaing Division, which rights groups have condemned on grounds of human rights abuses and environmental devastation.

Rights group Burma Rivers Network said an estimated 80 per cent of the electricity produced will not serve ordinary Burmese, who suffer extensive power outages and rationing, even in the old capital, Rangoon – but will go to India. Electricity in Burma is reportedly slated to power the Monywa mining operation.

The group said the dam “is expected to displace 30,000 people in Sagaing Division, including more than 35 Kuki villages, and flood approximately 17,000 acres [6,900 hectares] of fertile farmland”.

“In late 2007, approximately 380 households were forcibly relocated from Leivomjang and Tazong villages, which are located between Tamanthi and Homalin in Sagaing Division,” the group said on its website. “The villagers were instructed to move to a relocation site named ‘ShwePyiAye Village’ [after junta Senior General Than Shwe and Vice-Senior General Maung Aye]. The site has no fertile farmland and many villagers are trying to flee. Since construction activities began, increased Burma Army abuses have been reported near the Tamanthi site.”

“More than six per cent of the Tamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary will be inundated by the dam, including the vital habitats of globally endangered large mammals such as tiger … elephant … and the endemic Burmese roofed turtle will be lost forever as no other site for this species is currently known,” the group said.

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