Pranab for connecting with neighbours
Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday held deliberations with chief ministers of seven northeastern states and Sikkim of the country to give a push to the government's renewed northeast policy and key infrastructure projects linking neighbouring countries with rail and road.
Some of the projects that are likely to facilitate trade and connect northeast with South-East Asia include India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, the Trans-Asian Highway, India-Myanmar Rail linkages and the Myanmar-India-Bangladesh gas pipeline, reports The Times of India.
The chief ministers of the northeastern states--Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam, Mizoram and Sikkim--raised the issue of lack of resources to contribute to the central schemes. For all central schemes in the North-East, the government provides 90 percent funds and these special category states are required to contribute 10 percent.
The CMs urged the finance minister to make central schemes 100 percent funded by the government, as they are facing resource crunch and are unable to contribute their share leading to many schemes not being rolled out.
These projects are important for India's Look-East policy to improve its trade with Association of South East Asian Nations. Constructions of transport corridors are important part of this policy, as the north-east connects India with the sub-continent.
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