Northeast has to grow at an average annual rate of over 11 per cent if it has to reach the level of advanced states of India, said Lal Thanhawla, chief minister of Mizoram.
Citing the 'NE Vision 2020' document, Lal Thanhawla said there was "significant" need to augment infrastructure spending directly by the Central government in the region. Lal Thanhawla was speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) conference in Kolkata.
"North East has to grow and grow at an average annual rate of over 11 per cent if it has to reach the level of the advanced states of the country within a reasonable timeframe. This is an imperative not only in the region's interest but also in larger national interest," he said. He said achieving over 11 per cent growth rate could only be possible if the required quality infrastructure facilities are put in place and that would require massive investment tentatively estimated by the Vision document at nearly Rs 6.13 lakh crore by 2019-20.
"The Northeast must have world-class infrastructure. And we must have a vision. For, as the Bible says "where there is no vision people perish". But vision without action degenerates into mere day dream," he added.
The Northeast, then chief minister said, desperately wants to put down the proverbial 'begging bowl' and put on the 'gloves of a donor'. "Developed infrastructure will provide the key. The nation must extend the needed support to make it happen."
Given the strategic location of the region and the importance of infrastructure in promoting peace and prosperity, the Central government, Lal Thanhawla added, would have to allocate higher proportion of resources for strengthening infrastructure in the region.
"Action oriented programme is called for in various sub-sectors of infrastructure sector like surface communications, water ways, tele-communication, tourism and so on," he insisted.
"The nation has to find this resource. In this context the recent statement of Union finance minister Arun Jaitley that in spite of fiscal deficit, special efforts would be made to increase public investment in infrastructure sector is encouraging. I only hope that his priority list of investment destination would include the North East," said Lal Thanhawla.
