STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has chosen for consideration seven projects in the North-East region, including Assam, for the current fiscal year under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North-East (PM-DevINE). The projects will have a tentative cost of Rs 963 crore.
The DoNER Ministry has issued a report and guidelines in this regard, which includes the initial list of projects under PM-DevINE.
The projects are 'Establishment of Dedicated Services for the Management of Paediatric and Adult Haemotolymphoid Cancers in North-East India', Guwahati (multi-state) at a cost of Rs 129 crore; 'NECTAR Livelihood Improvement Project' (multi-state) at a cost of Rs 67 crore; 'Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in North-East India' (multi-state) at a cost of Rs 45 crore; 'Construction of Aizawl Bypass on Western Side' at a cost of Rs 500 crore; 'Gap Funding of Passenger Ropeway System from Pelling to Sang Choeling in west Sikkim' at a cost of Rs 64 crore; 'Gap Funding for Eco-Friendly Ropeway (Cable car) from Dhapper to Bhaleydhunga in south Sikkim' at a cost of Rs 58 crore; and 'Pilot Project for Construction of Bamboo Link Road at Different Locations in Various Districts in the State of Mizoram' at a cost of Rs 100 crore.
It is pertinent to mention that the PM-DevINE scheme will have an outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for the four-year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26 (remaining years of 15th Finance Commission period). PM-DevINE is aimed at creation of infrastructure, support to industries, social development projects and creation of livelihood activities for youth and women, thus leading to employment generation.
The Centre has made an initial allocation of Rs1,500 crore for the current fiscal year. After selection of these seven projects worth Rs 963 crore, an amount for Rs 537 crore is still available with the DoNER Ministry for additional projects in the current fiscal year. The North-eastern states will now submit fresh proposals against the remaining amount of money. In the context of Assam, the Transformation and Development (T&D) Department is coordinating the schemes for PM-DevINE under various departments of the state government. It may be recalled that the Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved the scheme for the next four years. PM-DevINE is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding and will be implemented by DoNER Ministry through the North Eastern Council (NEC) or Central ministries/agencies. The objectives of PM-DevINE are to fund infrastructure convergently in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti, support social development projects based on felt needs of the Northeastern region, enable livelihood activities for youth and women, and fill development gaps in various sectors.
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