PM-DevINE projects worth Rs 1,500 crore to be sanctioned by March 31

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will sanction various projects worth Rs 1,500 crore for the North-eastern states under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East region (PM-DevINE) within the ongoing financial year, which will end on March 31 next.

This was decided at two meetings of the Empowered Committee of PM-DevINE in New Delhi recently. The meetings were attended by senior officials of the DoNER Ministry, North Eastern Council (NEC), NITI Aayog, various Central ministries and agencies, and representatives of the state governments of the North-eastern states.

The second meeting was informed that the Union Cabinet had, on October 12, 2022, approved the PM-Devine scheme with a total outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission period up to March 31, 2026. As per the cabinet approval, the selection and sanctioning of projects worth Rs 1,500 would be done in the ongoing financial year and the projects against the balance amount of Rs 5,100 crore would be selected and sanctioned in the financial year 2023-24.

The first set of seven projects sanctioned in principle initially is worth Rs 963 crore. The state governments and Central agencies concerned have already submitted projects for the remaining amount of Rs 537 crore.

The first set of seven projects that have been approved in principle includes establishment of dedicated services for pediatric and adult hematolymphoid cancer patients of the Northeast at the Dr Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) in Guwahati at a cost of Rs 129 crore.

The second project entails setting up of NECTAR Livelihood Improvement projects in parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura at a cost of Rs 69 crore. The third project is aimed at promoting scientific organic agriculture in the Northeast region at a cost of Rs 45 crore.

The fourth project is construction of a by-pass road on the western side of Aizawl at a cost of Rs 500 crore.

The fifth project is construction and upgradation of two bamboo link roads in Mizoram at a total cost of Rs 100 crore.

The sixth and seventh projects entail gap funding of two passenger ropeway systems in different parts of Sikkim at a total cost of Rs 122 crore.

It may be mentioned that PM-DevINE was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the North-Eastern region.

Also Read: PM-DevINE: DoNER shortlists seven projects worth Rs 963 crore

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