Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that development, upgradation and improvement of National Highways (NHs) including NH-702, NH-702A and NH-702B in the State of Nagaland was a continuous process.
In reply to a question by lone Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland Tokheho Yepthomi, the Union Minister said that the highway starting from its junction with NH-702 at Longleng and terminating at its junction with NH-202 in Nagaland has been declared as NH-702B on June 13, 2014.
Gadkari informed that no expenditure has been made on NH-702B by the Ministry since its declaration. However, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) has sanctioned a work of upgradation of NH-702B on August 5, 2019, which was in progress.
The details of upgradation and improvement works sanctioned on NH-702, NH-702A and NH-702B in Nagaland since 2018-19 including sanctioned cost/expenditure incurred were also provided. (See table)
22 EMRSs sanctioned for Nagaland: Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh Saruta has informed that establishment of 22 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in Nagaland have been sanctioned so far.
In reply to MP Tokheho Yepthomi’s questions regarding EMRSs, the MoS informed that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was setting up Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across the country under the Central Sector Scheme of EMRS.
She said that EMRSs were being established at par with Navodaya Vidyalayas with special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development. The minister stated that the ministry has set the target of establishing 740 EMRSs to benefit about 3.5 lakh ST students by the year 2025-26.
Presently, she said 694 EMRSs have been sanctioned out of the proposed 740 EMRSs.
Further, MoS informed that the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), the autonomous body under the Ministry to manage and implement the scheme of EMRS, has submitted the statement of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized so far across the country including Nagaland.