GANGTOK,: Governor Om Prakash Mathur attended the
72nd Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held at Agartala,
Tripura today under the chairmanship of Home minister and NEC chairman Amit
Shah.
In his address, the Governor expressed
hope that the discussions would address key challenges and accelerate socio-economic
development in the region, informs a Raj Bhawan release.
Commending the NEC’s efforts in reducing
regional disparities and building critical infrastructure, the Governor
emphasized the importance of strategic planning as the NEC approaches its 75th
anniversary. He proposed formulating a comprehensive roadmap, titled “Developed
North East 2047,” to align with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Mathur also proposed establishing an
Ethno Medicine and Tourism Commission under a Public-Private Partnership model
to commercialize the region’s rich traditional and herbal medicinal resources.
This initiative, he suggested, would promote medical tourism and unlock
significant economic opportunities.
On tourism development, the Governor
called for significant investments in infrastructure and connectivity. With
coordinated efforts, Sikkim’s tourism revenue could potentially increase
tenfold by 2047, he said. He highlighted the need to address pressing concerns
related to connectivity and infrastructure while integrating Sikkim’s tourist
circuits with those of other Northeastern States.
Addressing disaster resilience, the
Governor mentioned the October 2023 floods in Sikkim and expressed gratitude
for the Government of India’s unwavering support in facilitating recovery
efforts. Referring to the Union Finance minister’s commitment in the 2024-25
Budget Speech, he requested the timely approval of proposed funds.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the Central
government for entrusting the maintenance of National Highway 10 to NHIDCL. He
also expressed concern over damages to NH-10 and other key roads due to heavy
rains, which have severely affected Sikkim’s economy. He urged the Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways and the NEC to prioritize road maintenance, upgrade
essential routes and fast-track alternative highway projects.
Further, the Governor raised concerns
regarding the suspension of flight operations at Greenfield Airport at Pakyong and
sought the early intervention of the Government of India to address the air
connectivity issue.
The Governor noted the decline in funds
allocated to Sikkim by the Ministry of DoNER and the NEC, compounded by the
exhaustion of funds under the 15th Finance Commission. He requested the
restoration of annual allocations, re-assessment of allocation criteria, and
additional funding for critical projects, noting the relatively low allocation
for Sikkim compared to other Northeastern States.
He emphasized the need to improve
telecommunication connectivity through collaboration between the Ministry of
DoNER and the Department of Telecommunications, considering its critical role
in the region’s holistic development. The Governor called for collective and
committed efforts to realize the vision of a Developed North East by 2047,
which he said would greatly contribute to Viksit Bharat @2047.
The Governor also expressed his
gratitude for the Central government’s consistent efforts to promote
development in the North Eastern States and appreciated Prime Minister’s emphasis
on the North East India as a vital part of the nation. The Governor also lauded
the DoNER Ministry and NEC for formulating a comprehensive North East Region
Vision 2047, which outlines a progressive roadmap for the region's development
and described it as a significant achievement.
The 72nd Plenary Meeting of the NEC was
also attended by DoNER minister and NEC vice chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia,
Minister of State for DoNER Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Governors and Chief Ministers
of NE States and NEC members.
