Kohima, Oct 29: Wrapping up his three-day maiden visit to Nagaland, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today unveiled a Rs 1050 crore economic package to accelerate development in the state.
"I am pleased to announce certain projects and schemes for accelerating the process of socio-economic development of Nagaland. The total amount earmarked for this package will be around Rs 1,050 crore," he told a crowded press conference here before leaving for New Delhi.
The Centre and state government would draw up a plan for creating 25,000 employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth of Nagaland in the next two years in the areas of agriculture, village industries, horticulture, medicinal plants, floriculture, bamboo products, tourism and transport. Rs 250 crore would be provided to implement it, he announced. The Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP), run by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), would be provided Rs 10 crore to set up a training institute for development of entrepreneurship.
Besides, the capital Kohima would be connected with the East-West corridor under National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) and the 81 km stretch between Dimapur and Kohima on NH-39 would be converted into a four-lane road at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore. The work on it would start during the next financial year, he said.
Bureau Report