DoNER Ministry Sanctions 86 Projects Valued at Rs 1,970.54 Crore for the North East in 2024: Officials

Agartala, Dec 26 (NationPress) The Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned 86 projects valued at Rs 1,970.54 crore for the eight northeastern states in 2024, officials reported on Thursday.

A senior official from the DoNER Ministry stated that out of the approved funds, Rs 1,590.81 crore has been disbursed through various schemes as of December 15.

These 86 projects received approval under the NorthEast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme-Other Than Roads Infrastructure (NESIDS-OTRI), the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme – Roads (NESIDS-Roads), the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), NEC schemes, and special development packages.

To effectively oversee the projects on the ground, from January 2015 to November this year, multiple Union Ministers have visited the northeastern region over 723 times, as per the official.

The visits are organized and tracked via the “Poorvottar Sampark Setu” portal, providing important insights and graphical data concerning state-wise and district-wise ministerial visits.

Actions taken based on recommendations from Union Ministers during these visits are periodically reviewed by the Minister of State for the DoNER Ministry.

The official added that the DoNER Ministry has established two task forces aimed at advancing the Agarwood and tourism sectors.

He mentioned that Agarwood is among the world’s most valuable trees, indigenous to the northeastern region, and is utilized for medicinal and aromatic purposes.

The Agarwood sector in the northeastern region presents considerable opportunities for economic growth and international trade.

Recognizing its potential, the DoNER Ministry has formed an Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF) to optimize and promote the Agarwood industry towards sustainable development and global competitiveness.

Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha previously stated that the state government is committed to advancing the Agarwood sector, which had been overlooked in the past.

He indicated that the current government is actively working to expand and develop the Agarwood industry through various initiatives.

Several measures, including an Agarwood policy, have been implemented to assist agarwood growers and traders.

He noted that there are over 12 million agar trees in the private sector of the state.

The Centre has already permitted the export of 25 metric tons of Agarwood chips and 1,500 kg of Agar oil from the country, Saha mentioned.

The official also stated that an Inter-ministerial Tourism Task Force has been formed to develop one world-class tourism site in each NE state to attract international visitors, establish GI status for 200 unique products in the region, and promote cultural identity and brand recognition.

Tourism sites for development in each state have been pinpointed and communicated to the respective states, which will make the final decision on the way forward.

The DoNER Ministry also hosted the inaugural ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’ at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, showcasing the vibrant textile sector of northeastern India, tourism opportunities, traditional craftsmanship, and distinctive Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products.

The three-day event (December 6-8) was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 6.