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Mahanta calls for more funds to NEC

Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today stressed the need for strengthening the North-Eastern Council with proper funding for developing roads, power and agricultural sectors and controlling recurring floods in the north-east.

Participating in Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's meeting with chief ministers of the North-Eastern states, including Sikkim, Mahanta said the role of the NEC in accelerating economic development in the north-east should be defined. He stressed that its activities should be limited to sectors of regional importance, linking roads construction, power, flood control and irrigation. The NEC should not be substituted for the Planning Commission for economic development of the North-East, he said. He welcomed the inclusion of Sikkim as the eighth constituent in the NEC, and said the Planning Commission should provide adequate funds to it.

He expressed concern over the very difficult financial situation in the region caused by curbing insurgent activities. He demanded that the Centre come forward to help the state government with generous assistance so as to maintain law and order in the state which he said, is the pre-requisite for ensuring economic development and implementing the special package announced by the Centre for the region.

Referring to the mounting number of educated unemployed in the region, he said they should be absorbed into the central services, including railways, ports, paramilitary forces and public sector undertakings.

UNI

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