Ultras urged not to hinder NE development

AGARTALA, August 7-The seven Northeast states have jointly urged the underground militant outfits of the region not to hinder developmental works. A resolution to this effect was passed at the 46th meeting of the North Eastern Regional Electricity Board (NEREB) here yesterday. Power ministers from Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and deputy chief minister of Mizoram, also holding the power portfolio, attended the meeting. The NEREB chairman and Tripura power minister Badal Chowdhury told newsmen here today that all the seven power ministers expressed concern over insurgency having adverse impact on developmental activities, specially in the power sector in the region. The Nagaland minister and former NEREB chairman, K Therie, said foreign and domestic investors wanted security guarantees to invest in the power sector in the region. Most of the extremist outfits were against development, he said.