NEW DELHI, Feb 4 ? Unimpressed by the progress in implementation of projects in the North-east, Prime Minister?s Office has constituted a special committee headed by Union Cabinet Secretary to monitor the progress of three selected projects. The projects which were part of the Prime Minister?s 28-point economic package has been making tardy progress forcing the PMO to intervene. The projects included the Rs 6,608 crore lower Subansiri Hydel project, North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (NEIGRIMS) and the border fencing project.
All the three projects have run out of steam despite availability of funds. The border fencing work has been hit hard because of non-challant attitude of the State governments, alignment problems and dispute with Bangladesh. The Union Home Secretary is now scheduled to brief the committee shortly explaining the reasons for the delay in completion of the fencing project.
Similarly, the Union Power Ministry is making a presentation on progress of the 2000 MW lower Subansiri Hydel Project before the committee headed by Union Cabinet Secretary and that includes Union Power Secretary, Union Forest and Environment Secretary, DONER Secretary and senior officials of the Planing Commission.
The project has suffered cost and time overrun because of several factors ranging from geological problems to relief and rehabilitation hurdles. The only silver lining so far is that the project was accorded clearance by the Central Electricity Board (CEA) on January 13. However, the difficult ones like Wildlife, Forest and Environment clearances are yet to take place.
Meanwhile, Minister for DONER, Dr C P Thakur in the maiden press conference after taking over charge also stressed on timely completion of sanctioned project. ?I will accord top priority on completion of ongoing projects,? he said. The minister who presided over a meeting of the officials of the DONER this afternoon said that it has been decided to open at least two show rooms in Delhi and Mumbai each exclusively to sell traditional products including handloom and handicraft items produced by the eight North-eastern States.
The idea is to make available all the traditional items of the eight States under one room, the minister said, adding that efforts would also be made to explore the possibilities of having tie-ups with foreign multinational companies to market these products. Significantly, the Minister underlining the need to bring the underground outfits to the mainstream said that the local potential should be exploited. The minister also lauded the north-eastern States for utilising the funds sanctioned.