Centre committed to speedy development of north-east: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre is committed to the speedy development of the north-eastern states, especially areas along the international border in the region.

Chairing a meeting of Chief Ministers and senior officers of four north-eastern states called to review security situation in their states on the India-Myanmar international border, Rajnath Singh said the region is rich in human and natural resources.

"Our government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to fast-tracking the region's development. Extension work on spreading road and rail networks is on in a mission mode."

"The meeting discussed the status of border infrastructure along the India-Myanmar border and implementation of the Border Area Development Programme projects," a Mizoram Home Department official said.

He said Rajnath Singh also reviewed the status of streamlining the Free Movement Regime for better facilitation of movement of people across the border.

Besides Rajnath Singh's deputy Kiren Rijiju, Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh (Pema Khandu), Manipur (N. Biren Singh) and Mizoram (Lal Thanhawla), Nagaland Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu's representative and state Home Minister Yanthungo Patton, Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police, Director General of the Assam Rifles, and senior state civil and police officials attended the meeting.

The Home Minister said Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram got Rs 567.39 crore in three years under the Border Area Development programme.

Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju were scheduled to visit the India-Myanmar border areas by a helicopter, the official said.

The Home Minister also met Mizoram Governor Lt. Gen. Nirbhay Sharma (retd) at Raj Bhavan in Aizwal.

"Shall review security and development-related issues with CMs of north-eastern states bordering Myanmar," Singh earlier tweeted ahead of his arrival in Mizoram capital Aizawl on Monday morning.

The unfenced India-Myanmar border along Mizoram is frequently used by smugglers to smuggle in drugs, firearms and contraband from Myanmar, the official said.

Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km) share the 1,643-km mountainous border of India with Myanmar.

--IANS

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