NECCI moves PM over regions development
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 28 A delegation of the North Eastern Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NECCI), comprising its secretary general DK Sarma and senior vice-president Dr NN Dutta, met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi recently and submitted a memorandum highlighting some issues critical to the development of the North-east, a press release said. While the delegation emphasised the need for special attention of the Prime Ministers Office towards the development of the region, the Prime Minister assured that the matters would be looked into in the right earnest. The NECCI also handed over two specific project proposals on health care survey and capacity building for tourism.The memorandum noted that the Look East Policy formulated by the Centre opened up new vistas for the North-east, which enjoys a strategic location due to its proximity to the South East Asian nations. The need of the hour, therefore, is to facilitate global interactions, it said. It also suggested formation of an Assam Developmental Council that would mobilise the necessary political will to foster concrete projects, monitor better utilisation of resources, develop the overall framework for trade and investment in the State, invite and obtain technical and financial inputs from the State as well as outside.
The various developmental activities right from planning to implementation can be synchronised by a high-level body comprising intellectuals, bureaucrats, members of the chambers of commerce and industry, journalists, and academicians. For the smooth functioning of this body, the Centre should allocate adequate funds and make it mandatory to consult and seek approval so that all major developmental activities can be routed through this body, it said. .The NECCI also demanded a comprehensive infrastructure development policy for the entire region with improvement in major areas like road, ensuring connectivity of at least 75 per cent villages to the national and State highways by 2008, extending the East-West corridor from Guwahati to Ledo, rebuilding the Stilwell Road, etc.
It also suggested a number of steps for improving air connectivity, improving waterway and railway, among others.Calling for modification and extension of the North East Industrial Policy (NEIP), the NECCI said that there should be uniform distribution of industries through the North-east by declaring it a tax-free zone.
On the tourism front too, the memo suggested several steps to tap the immense potential of the region.Can you solve the mystery of 'The Kitty Caper'?
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