North-East 586 projects COMPLETED in 6 years

 

The NEC completed 586 projects involving a cost of Rs 5,959.24 crore in six years -- from 2017-18 to 2022-23, says K Moses Chalai, Secretary of the NEC

 

 

 

 

The North-Eastern Council (NEC) is not like any other regional planning body that would just make plans and issue advisories. In fact, it has developed such a mechanism since the role revival in 2017-18, that it has actually completed as many as 586 projects in just six years! “The vision, objectives and goals of the NEC underwent certain changes after approval in the 67th Plenary of the Council. Subsequently, these changes were reflected in NEC Guidelines of 2018. Accordingly, the NEC is enabling the States and the implementing agencies to plan and execute projects properly, promoting research and innovation, and providing strategic policy vision for the region,” said K Moses Chalai, Secretary of the NEC.

 

He told ‘The Hitavada’ that the NEC actually completed 586 projects involving a cost of Rs 5,959.24 crore in six years -- from 2017-18 to 2022-23. In fact, in 2022-23, the NEC completed 10 major projects. These include Silchar-Dwarband-Gaglacherra Road project worth Rs 85.82 crore, Jowai-Nartiang-Khanduli-Baithalangso road project of Rs 71 crore, Bhawanipur to Manas National Park road via Saudarvitha Ananda Bazar Road, Na Ali road, Reshi-Legship to Bermick road, bridge over river Barak at Fulertal, Pakke-Seijosa-Itakhola road. These 10 completed projects also include creation of necessary infrastructure for storage of water to meet the emergency needs of Shillong, the State capital of Meghalaya and East Khasi Hills district.

 

The conversion of 33 kv pole structure to Lattice tower of Ringmain Feeder at Kohima in Nagaland, promotion of integrated horticulture farming system in shifting cultivation areas of Manipur also are among the projects completed in 2022-23. This did not come so easy. For, according to K Moses Chalai, there were multiple challenges posed by diversity of terrain. Besides, some financial prudence had to be exercised. Accordingly, the projects delayed for over three years were closed on ‘as is, where is’ basis after consultations with the States. A series of Utilisation Certificate clearance meetings were held, and the result was achieved through expeditious release of funds leading to completion of projects. The number of projects completed, thus, increased from 51 in 2014-15 to 74 in 2017-18, and to 121 in 2022-23. Besides, unlike many other bodies (especially the urban local bodies in the country), the establishment expenditure of the NEC is said to be just 1.4 per cent of the NEC budget. On May 4, 2022, online monitoring of infra projects by using satellite images and tools was launched. Obviously, with focus and monitoring, the NEC could lead the North-Eastern region to the historic day of November 1, 2023. (To be continued)