Centre allotted Rs 44,000 cr to N-E in last 5 years: PM

The PM said several projects have been initiated with the setting up of a separate department for the region and major thrust has been laid on the development of the area.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday said that the NDA government has provided Rs 44,000 crore to Northeastern states in the last five years for the development of the region.

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"Several projects have been initiated in the region with the setting up of a separate department for the Northeast region and major thrust has been laid on the development of the area," Vajpayee said while addressing a mammoth election rally at Maligaon here.

During 2001-2003, Assam only was given Rs 90 crore under the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana, while 3449 projects were being cleared for providing drinking water in rural areas of the state.

"Unfortunately, poor implementation of programmes were reported. Assam needs a government to solve this problem without indulging in politics," he added.

He also pointed out that 1016 km of roads were being constructed in Assam and more than one lakh shallow tube-wells sunk to irrigate more than five lakh hectares at the initiative of the Centre.

The Prime Minister also referred to the development package announced by his government in October, 2003.