Excelsior Correspondent
KOHIMA (NAGALAND), Dec 8: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that Prime Minister Narendra Modi accords highest priority to peripheral regions, including the eight States of North Eastern region and the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
At a high level official meeting, between the Union Ministry for DoNER led by Dr Jitendra Singh and the State Government of Nagaland led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, senior Cabinet Ministers and senior officers of State Govt, Dr Jitendra Singh said, over the last five years, the State of Nagaland has itself undergone huge transformation and make-over. Nagaland today has emerged as an example of peace and development taking precedence over all the bitter experiences of the past and seeking to move forward at the same pace as some of the more developed States of India.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, right from the day Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister, he has been emphasising the importance of bringing the far-flung States like Nagaland to the same level of development as other States and Nagaland has distinctly lived up to this endeavour.
While discussing the issue of a new Airport for Kohima and the feasibility of upgrading the Dimapur Airport, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to the recent decision taken by the Union Cabinet wherein in the next phase of the Central Government’s UDAAN scheme, the Aviation Ministry is going to focus primarily on the North Eastern and the Hill States. He also reviewed the progress of upgradation of Dimapur to Kohima road and said the ongoing Hornbill festival is attracting visitors from all over India and abroad who are using both the air route as well as road transport for the purpose and added that with the improvement of connectivity, there would be a further flow of people visiting Nagaland from other parts of India and abroad.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also listed out some of the pending projects in the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC) and urged for expediting them. The officials of the Ministry of DoNER informed that there was around Rs. 2 crore pending in the Ministry and North Eastern Council to be immediately released to the State Government but had got held up due to non-submission of Utilization Certificates.
The Chief Minister also handed over to the DoNER Minister, who is also Minister In-charge DoPT, a list of Nagaland cadre IAS officers who had over-stayed in the Union Capital and whom the State government wanted to be repatriated so that their services could be utilised in the State.
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