Assam's DoNER Ministry recommended Eight Road Projects Cancelled by Central Cabinet

Guwahati: In what seems like a contradictory move to the Government's "Act East Policy" slogans and ambitious initiative to make the eight states of the northeast region "Engine of Growth", the Central Cabinet has decided to cancel the eight important road projects in Assam. What is even more shocking is the projects had been recommended by the DoNER (Ministry of Development of North East Region).

The Rs 100 crore project aimed at the construction of eight important roads for Assam, which the Central Cabinet canceled. The projects were earlier cleared by the North Eastern Council and recommended by DoNER ministry.

It should be noted that out of these eight projects, one was the Jagun-Namsai-Miao road near the Indo-Myanmar border, which holds great significance from the security point of view. Another project falls in Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's home constituency Majuli.

The decision by the Central Cabinet is bound to invite criticism and question Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Northeast development narratives.

In response to the NEC's request, the Assam State Government had prepared a DPR ( Detailed Project Report) on the road construction project, which was submitted to the NEC and was finally affirmed by the DoNER ministry.

The decision had received cumulative opposition from the majority of the states. In the 67th Plenary Session of the NEC in Shillong, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the chief ministers of northeastern states had objected to the government's decision to withhold developmental projects sanctioned by NEC.

The Chief Ministers of the northeastern states have urged the Centre to give a second thought to the decision.