HIGHLIGHTS ROADS AS LINKS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT
Pointing out that infrastructural development need of North East region was huge, the Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang has however said the priority should be construction of highways and railways so that the region becomes central and strategic in terms of international trade and development.
Speaking at the inaugural programme of “India-Japan Partnership Towards Meeting the Challenges of Infrastructure Development in India’s North East” workshop at Hotel Acacia here on Tuesday, Zeliang reiterated his suggestion that the most practicable and convenient road and rail connections between India and South East Asian countries should run through Nagaland to Moreh border town via Imphal. He said the East-West corridor had to be extended from Doboka junction in Assam to Moreh via Kohima and Imphal as there already was a highway connecting Moreh upto Kuala Lumpur, which needed to be upgraded to international standards.
Further, Nagaland chief minister said the second most important infrastructural gap of North East region was electricity, both in terms of adequate availability and its efficient transmission and distribution system.
Asserting that the present power infrastructure, especially the transmission and distribution system was far from satisfactory, Zeliang suggested that the workshop discuss how to address this serious gap in power sector.
On the proposal of border fencing, Zeliang said it was not a viable proposition in the Nagaland sector. He explained that the peculiar character of this sector was that in spite of the open and unguarded border, and in spite of the free-movement regime, there has been practically no migration of the native Nagas across the international border.
Zeliang instead maintained that the need was not barbed wire fencing, but construction of roads across the border to “un-lock the land-locked areas”, and promote trade and development. Zeliang expressed hope that the gathering of the many thinkers, planners and development strategists would formulate some significant plans to develop the region into becoming a key hub in trade, commerce and international relations among the South East Asian nations.
He also underscored the ties between Nagaland and Japan through the World War II and expressed hope that Japan would be on the verge of creating a new image by playing a pivotal role in the infrastructural development in North East.
The workshop was attended by India Council for Research on International Economic Relations Director & Chief Executive-Rajat Kathuria, Embassy of Japan in India minister-Akio Isomata, India Foundation Director-Alok Bansal, and Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries & Advisors of the Government of Nagaland, Chief Secretary and other officials of Nagaland.
Earlier welcome remark was delivered by Rajat Khuria, special remarks were proposed by Akio Isomata while the vote of thanks was conveyed by Alok Bansal.