Prabhu draws roadmap for NE's development

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, Sept 21: “Development is the crux of problem for many ills of a region. Northeast is no exception. Barak Valley in particular is the most backward area in the country as a whole and calls for focused attention”, pointed out Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Union Minister of Railway, while addressing the assembly of distinguished persolities and citizens through video conferencing at a function organized by Bimolangshu Roy Foundation in the auditorium of Banga Bhawan on Monday. It was the occasion to commemorate the sixth death anniversary of Bimolangshu Roy, the well known representative of people in the Assam Assembly from Barak Valley.

 Describing Bimolangshu Roy as a towering political leader with lot of contributions in highlighting the various problems of this region and also taking up cudgel for their resolutions, he was unequalled. For him, the interest of people was always upper most in his mind. The aspirations of people rise with greater expectations for rapid growth. Suresh Prabhu admitted, “We are not developing like the rest of the world. My concern is not only for Barak Valley but for Assam and north east as a whole.”

 Speaking about his mind on how to develop Assam along with this valley, he said the parametres for development hinge on better educatiol and health structure and also the hastening of economic development. For this road, rail, air and waterways connectivity has to develop and along with that infrastructure facility should also be built up. Against this given ambiance for development, Prabhu laid down his vision of development through entrepreneurship and skill development as envisioned by Prime Minister rendra Modi.

 Continuing, he also spoke of his government’s social commitment to keep supply chain on line by connecting the far and near places by railway network. This would be the main thrust and the Indian Railways is giving priority to connect all the state capitals of north east. Substantial progress has been made on this ground and the extension of BG is on fast track. With strong connectivity, the Railway Minister expressed his confidence to take up development programmes for youth. In order to give a concrete shape to the vision of development, he would work in close coordition with Rajen Gohain, Minister of State for Railways.

 “Together we would put in best of efforts for development of Assam,” added Suresh Prabhu. He brought in the case of Tripura in the grip of the crisis in petroleum products recently due to the worst condition of NH 6 at the entry point of the state. The Railways took immediate steps to put in fuel tankers on flat wagon service ‘RoRo’ (Roll On - Roll Off) to lift petrol from Bhanga in Karimganj to deliver it in Churaibari of Tripura. One of the priorities of the railways, he held out, will be to give opportunities to local people by creating the avenues of jobs.

 Suresh Prabhu spoke about the opportunity before the farmers to take advantage of the BG connectivity by taking up floriculture, horticulture, fruit cultivation, bamboo development programme. He said Tripura has greater land mass equal to Chi where bamboo cultivation can be taken up on commercial basis. Chi has been a model of making better use of bamboo and also exploitation of tural resources. North east with its rich potentiality can develop its economy to the optimum level by taking advantage of the railway connectivity. “On our part, all our activities will be focused on the north east development to which we have social commitment”, summed up Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu.