GUWAHATI, Nov 22 ? The following development programmes and projects have been taken in Assam coinciding with the visit of the Prime Minister to the State: ? Special Plan assistance of Rs 240 crore for flood damage repair and infrastructure development during the current financial year; ? Rs 45 crore is being sanctioned for flood relief and drinking water supply; ? For protection of Majuli island from floods and erosion, Rs 41 crore has been sanctioned in the first phase, to be followed by additional funds for subsequent works; ? Conversion to broad gauge of the Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam railway line by 2009-10; ? Four-laning NH-37 over the Nagaon-Jorhat-Dibrugarh stretch on a priority basis; ? Double-laning of nine National Highways (NH-36, 51, 52, 53, 54, 61, 152, 153 and 154) on a priority basis; ? Guwahati Trade Center to be set up by ITPO and then handed over to Government of Assam; ? Package of assistance for tea industry to be announced soon; ? Resumption of biweekly flights between Guwahati and Bangkok by the end of the year; ?NABARD to provide bank credit for 20,500 Self Help Groups within a year; ?Gas Authority of India (GAIL) will prepare and submit a project report for the Assam Gas Cracker Project so that a final decision may be taken soon. Government of India will expedite the process; ? Financial assistance and other support will be provided for National Games 2005; ? Assam will be covered under a new central initiative on the anvil for improving rural healthcare; ? Modernisation of Guwahati Medical College, Assam Medical College and Silchar Medical College; ?The project approval process and fund release processes for Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and North-East Council (NEC) Projects will be revamped to reduce delays; ?The North East Council will be revamped for serving as an effective regional planning body and to make it more representative of regional needs; ? Enhanced support for rural electrification to achieve 100 per cent village electrification by 2009; ?State Government will be supported for setting up micro-hydel projects; ? External aid for improving roads and bridges will be favourably considered; ? Restructuring of the State?s finances will be considered after the report of the Twelfth Finance Commission is received; ? A blueprint for employment will be prepared by the Planning Commission in consultation with the State Government and other bodies.
Last but not the least the Government will consider establishing a cohesive, autonomous, self-contained entity called the ?Brahmaputra Valley Authority? or the ?North-East Water Resources Authority? to provide effective flood control, generate electricity, provide irrigation facilities and develop infrastructure.
Given managerial and financial autonomy, equipped with top class manpower, and backed by Parliamentary sanction, such a body could be the instrument for transforming the region. It could be the instrument for providing a ?new deal? for Assam, stated a release.