ITANAGAR, 4 Sep: The North Eastern Council (NEC), operating under the DoNER Ministry, has completed projects valued Rs 82.41 crore under the Scheme of NEC (SoNEC) and NESIDS-Roads in Arunachal Pradesh during July-August, while simultaneously releasing nearly Rs 15 crore to improve connectivity, medical care, education, etc, according to an NEC release.
Under the SoNEC, the comprehensive upgradation of the 40-bedded hospital in Likabali in Lower Siang district was completed at a cost of Rs 14.38 crore. The hospital is now equipped with advanced maternity and labour-care wards, a modern modular operation theatre, comprehensive emergency and diagnostic equipment, and a dedicated blood bank, the release said.
In the education sector, it said, the boys' and girls' hostels in Roing, Dibang Valley,were completed on 11 August with a sanctioned amount of Rs 5.17 crore.
Under rural development, comprehensive community works were completed in the Hunli-Desali block in Lower Dibang Valley district at a sanctioned cost of Rs 4.74 crore, and in the Taliha CD block in Upper Subansiri district at a sanctioned cost of Rs 4.95 crore, the release said.
In Tirap, the development of the Tissa viewpoint near Tissa Camp was also completed with a sanctioned amount of Rs 1.80 crore. The viewpoint is expected to enhance local ecotourism potential.
In West Siang, a 200-hectare bamboo plantation across jhum and fallow lands in the Hikam and Muro areas of Tadin village was completed on 16 July at a cost of Rs 2.19 crore, offering sustainable, wage-earning alternatives to shifting cultivation.
In the horticulture sector, the orange and cardamom plantation project in Keojoring and Rava villages in Nacho circle was completed at a cost of Rs 1.98 crore.
Under community infrastructure, essential service frameworks were completed at the Lemiking CD block at a cost of Rs 3.64 crore and the Giba RD block at a cost of Rs 4.27 crore in Upper Subansiri district, establishing resilient community hubs.
Under NESIDS-Roads, two vital road projects worth Rs 39.29 crore were completed, including a 7.2-km double-lane highway connecting Pokriana SDO headquarters, Lanrgh, and adjoining villages, providing all-weather connectivity for over 16,185 people across 62 villages. The other is a road link in Kodum circle that connects West Siang, Leparada, Siang, and Shi-Yomi districts, unlocking regional commerce and benefitting more than 1.12 lakh people.
During the two months' period, the NEC also released around Rs 15 crore for various ongoing projects, including Rs 6.08 crore under the SoNEC and Rs 8.82 crore under NESIDS-Roads, to accelerate those projects.
The funding under the SoNEC included Rs 2.05 crore for a boys' hostel at DK College, Tawang, Rs 2.43 crore for an under-construction boys' hostel at Government Model College, Roing, Rs 1 crore for literary development and preservation of indigenous mother tongues, and Rs 61.07 lakh for establishing an organic turmeric processing unit-cum-packaging centre in New Lasum Patte in Pakke-Kessang district.
Under the NESIDS (Roads), the council released Rs 8.82 crore for a 21-km road from Amuli NH 313 to Athuni via Leyaka Pass at Anini with a total project cost of Rs 94.45 crore, which will provide winter-proof mobility for thousands across eight border villages.
Under regional research initiative, the council released Rs 16.22 crore to premier agencies in the Northeast. Key projects anchored in Arunachal included Rajiv Gandhi University's studies on 'Viksit Bharat @2047: Vibrant Villages Programme' and 'Emerging AI Technologies in Biomechanics and Drones', as well as the NERIST's pioneering research, synthesising bamboo charcoal composites for radar-absorbent materials.
