Government of India

Ministry of Development of Northeast Region

Press Release

Shri P.R. Kyndiah, Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) inaugurated a national Consultation Workshop on 26^th June at New Delhi. The Workshop was organized jointly by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and the World Bank to discuss the draft Strategy Report prepared by the World Bank as a part of the Study on “ Natural Resources, Water and the Environment Nexus for Development and Growth in North East India”.

2.          Speaking on the occasion, Shri. P.R. Kyndiah emphasized the need for harnessing of the abundant natural resources of the North East Region for its sustainable development and growth. He referred to the proposal for establishing a cohesive, autonomous and self-contained entity to provide effective flood control, generate electricity, provide irrigation facilities and develop infrastructure and said that the time has come to give serious consideration to the proposal.  He also referred to the rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystem of the Region and appealed for its conservation.

3.       Shri. Saifuddin Soz, Union Minister of Water Resources, Shri. Gegong Apang, Chief Minister, Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Bharat Chandra Narah, Assam Minister for Water Resources, Dr(Mrs.)I. K. Barthakur, Member, NEC and senior officials from all eight North Eastern States and concerned Central Ministries, Central Water Commission, Brahmaputra Board, Inland Waterways Authority of India, the North Eastern Council, the World Bank etc also attended the two day workshop which generated a lot of interest. Experts from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),USA Columbia River Basin ( Canada & USA) and Brazil made detailed presentations to the participants followed by discussions.

4.       The Workshop underlined the need for dynamic institutions for the management of water and other natural resources in the Northeast and for harnessing these for its economic and social upliftment, while being mindful of ecological concerns, sustainable development and the traditional knowledge systems of local communities.

5.       The consultative workshop was called following submission of the report “Natural Resources, Water and Environment Nexus for Development and Growth in Northeast India” by the World Bank to the Government of India. A copy of the Report is available at www.mdoner.gov.in

6.       The draft report covers a range of sectors that the Northeast can develop and benefit from. The sectors range from inland waterways to “living intelligently with floods”, hydropower potential and decentralised Brahmaputra river basin management, biodiversity cataloguing in conjunction with tribal communities and possible opportunities for enterprises in the Northeast.