GUWAHATI, Dec 25 – Union Minister for Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Arun Shourie today stated that the Central government was not averse to provide a ‘special package’ to the region in case the NE states show capability for prompt and honest execution of the projects. He also put restoration of peace and end to all sorts of extortion in the region as another precondition for the Centre to grant a ‘special package’ to the region.
Addressing a function held on the occasion of launching of the first 50-seater aircrafts by Alliance Air for the region, Shourie said the Centre was working out an agenda to convert the North-East region a free trade zone along with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand making it country’s gateway to the Asian region. He stated that introduction of the 50-seater aircrafts would go a long way in removing regional disparity in the North-East and emphasised on the need to improve the road network in the region connecting all state capitals and district headquarters. He suggested that the chief ministers of the north eastern states should take up the matter of improving road connectivity in the region when they meet at Gangtok next March for the annual conference.
Later talking to newsmen after the flagging off ceremony of the 50-seater ATR-42 aircraft at the LGBI Airport here, Shourie denied the allegation that the DONER had been biased in sanctioning projects submitted by Assam government. When drawn to the fact that the DONER had so far sanctioned only five projects out of the 200 projects submitted by Assam government, Shourie shot back saying, ‘we can’t sanction some scrap papers submitted as projects. DONER will not block any feasible projects for taking off by not funding the same.’ He also denied any friction with the Assam government over non-sanctioning of projects, in presence of the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Meanwhile, Shourie stated that the Government of India had geared up the diplomatic efforts to get evicted the NE militants taking shelter in neighbouring Bhutan and Bangladesh. Hoping that something concrete will soon materialise, Shourie said the government of India had been constantly seeking active cooperation from Bhutan and Bangladesh authorities regarding eviction of NE militants from those neighbouring countries.