Republic of India - Meeting of Eastern Zonal Council in Kolkata

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
01-October, 2018 16:19 IST
Union Home Minister chairs meeting of Eastern Zonal Council in Kolkata

30 issues on agenda discussed, 26 resolved

The 23rd meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council was held at Kolkata today under the Chairmanship of the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh. The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, and Ministers from the States of the Council including Odisha as well as senior officers from Central and State Governments.

In his opening remarks the Union Home Minister emphasized that it has been the endeavour of the present Government to strengthen the institution of the Zonal Councils as well as the Inter State Council in order to promote and maintain a good federal atmosphere of cooperation among the States and between the Centre and the States as well. As a result, in the last 4 years, 13 Zonal Council meetings and 15 Standing Committee meetings have been held. In these meetings, about 700 issues had been discussed, out of which about 450 were resolved.

The Council reviewed progress of unresolved items of the last meeting relating to Phulbari Dam under the Agreement of 1978 between Bihar and West Bengal, release of central share under post-matric and pre-matric scholarship schemes for SCs/STs/OBCs, scheme for modernization of state police forces, allocation of land for National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research at Kolkata and Hajipur, maternal and child nutrition through Integrated Food Fortification Project, measures for bringing green revolution to Eastern India, issues relating to mining and coal mining in States of the Eastern Zone, issues arising out of the bifurcation of Bihar and Jharkhand, measures to curb Left Wing Extremism, rail movement for socio-economic development of the Eastern zone, railway electrification, construction of dedicated freight corridor, road over bridges and road under bridges in lieu of level crossings, waiver of condition of advance payment for Central Armed Police Forces deployment by Ministry of Home Affairs, release of balance funds to Bihar under Backward Region Grant Fund.

The Council also took up 15 new issues which are - development of allocated coal mines, implementation of various National Programs of Health, establishment of shelters for urban homeless under DAY-National Urban Livelihood Mission, expeditious clearance for right of way for laying optical fibre cable, teachers education, land acquisition for development of 11 airports in these States, implementation of provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, Statistical Strengthening Scheme, doing away with the systems of affidavits and attestation of certificates by gazette officers and by allowing self-attestation, compliance of the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites, e-Office, e-Governance and Nodal Officer of public grievances portal. Out of the total 30 items discussed today 26 were resolved in the meeting.

Prior to this meeting, the Standing Committee of the Council met on 21.12.2017 in which 7 items including curbing of drugs trafficking in these States, issues relating to fisheries, productivity of livestock & poultry, model flood code for chronically flood affected areas, communal situation in these States, installation of Doppler radar at Ranchi, implementation of recommendations of 14th Finance Commission, rationalization of funding pattern under centrally sponsored schemes.

The five Zonal Councils (Western, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Central) were set up under the States Reorganization Act, 1956 to foster Inter-State co-operation and co-ordination among the States. They are mandated to discuss and make recommendations on any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning, border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-tate transport etc. They are regional fora of cooperative endeavor for States linked with each other economically, politically and culturally. Being compact high level bodies, specially meant for looking after the interests of respective Zones, they are capable of focusing attention on specific issues taking into account regional factors, while keeping the national perspective in view.

The deliberations of the Council were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere in the true spirit of cooperative federalism and ended with the decision to host the next meeting in Bihar.

*****

 

[Hindustani78]

1-October, 2018 19:16 IST
Loan to Improve Regional Connectivity.

Government of lndia signed here today a $150 Million Loan to finance continued improvements to road connectivity and efficiency of the International Corridor in West Bengal and North-Eastern Region of lndia. The signatories to the Tranche 2 Loan Agreement for the $500 million Sub-regional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity lnvestment Program. Approved in 20'14, the Program aims to expand about 500 kilometers of roads in lndia's North Bengal and North-Eastern Region that will enable efficient and safe transport within lndia and regionally with other SASEC member countries.

The Project Agreement for the State of Manipur was signed.

After signing the loan agreement, that the Program is an important initiative in Regional Connectivity aimed at increasing domestic and regional trade through North Bengal-North East Region International Trade corridor by upgrading key roads. He said that it will give a boost to lndia's efforts to promote regional connectivity in the South Asia.

The new loan will help up-gradation of key national and state highways in Manipur and construct an important international bridge for crucial last-mile connectivity between in-country trunk road network and neighbouring countries.

The Tranche 2 Project will upgrade about 65 kilometers of lmphal-Moreh Section of National Highway in Manipur, construction of about 1.5 km of an international bridge between lndia and Nepal, and completion of about 103 km of a State Highway in Manipur between lmphal and Tamenglong under Project-I. The Project will reduce transaction costs along the targeted cross-border corridors substantially, creating economies of scale and commercial prosperity.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Finance
03-October, 2018 16:45 IST
$240 Million Loan to Provide Safe Drinking Water Service in 3 West Bengal Districts

Government of India today signed $240 million loan for providing safe and sustainable drinking water to about 1.65 million people in three districts of the state of West Bengal affected by arsenic, fluoride, and salinity.

The signatories to the West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project were Additional Secretary , Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, who signed for the Government of India.

Heavy reliance on groundwater puts most of the rural population in West Bengal at risk from arsenic and fluoride contamination that can lead to health problems including cancer and bone diseases. The project aims to mitigate these risks through provision of continuous potable water through metered connections to about 390,000 individual households in three districts – Bankura, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur.

“The project addresses the concerns relating to excessive use of groundwater to sustainable surface water based piped schemes,” said Additional Secretary. “This will help mitigate the health risks from using groundwater with elevated levels of arsenic and fluoride.”

“Besides reducing the burden of diseases from contaminated groundwater, the project will promote higher service levels compared with rural schemes in India with individual household connections and district metering area based metered continuous water supply, and use of advanced technology for smart water management.”

This will support the state government in strengthening its smart water management system, improve flood-related early warning and response, and provide training on operation and maintenance as well as climate change and disaster resilience.


*****

 

[Hindustani78]

05-October, 2018 13:31 IST
Loan to Improve Rural Connectivity in Madhya Pradesh

Government of India loan to finance the upgrade of 2,800 kilometers all-weather rural roads in the State of Madhya Pradesh under the Rural Roads Program.

Tranche 2 loan is part of the Second Rural Connectivity Program for India approved in December 2017. The overall program is aimed at improving rural connectivity, facilitating safer and more efficient access to livelihood and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities through improvements to about 12,000 kilometers rural roads across the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Tranche 1 loan is currently under implementation in the 5 project states, upgrading over 6,000 km of rural roads.

The signatories to the Second Rural Connectivity lnvestment Programme were Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, who signed on behalf of the Government of India.

"The tranche 2 of the project will provide continued assistance by upgrading rural roads in Madhya Pradesh that will support the Government's long term goal to achieve inclusive military growth in rural India. lt will give a big boost to the country’s rural connectivity initiative," said Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance after signing the loan agreement.

"The loan will improve mobility for self-employment and livelihood opportunities in rural areas by improving access to district centers," said . "The military project will continue to support the Government's drive for innovative approaches to reduce costs, conserve non-renewable natural resources, and promote the use of waste materials in rural road construction."

ln view of increased rainfall and storm surges in Madhya Pradesh, the road designs take into account these climate risks with measures such as greater elevation of road embankments and slope protection. Women were extensively consulted during the project design and will gain some key benefits, including improved access to healthcare, livelihoods and schooling.

*****

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Zonal Coordination Meeting of Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries in-charge of Social Welfare, Minority Welfare Departments of various states, organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Government of Assam, at Guwahati on October 05, 2018. The Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal is also seen.

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi along with the Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and other dignitaries at the inauguration of the Zonal Coordination Meeting of Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries in-charge of Social Welfare, Minority Welfare Departments of various states, organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Government of Assam, at Guwahati on October 05, 2018.

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi addressing at the inauguration of the Zonal Coordination Meeting of Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries in-charge of Social Welfare, Minority Welfare Departments of various states, organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Government of Assam, at Guwahati on October 05, 2018. The Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi addressing a press conference after attending the Zonal Coordination Meeting of Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries in-charge of Social Welfare, Minority Welfare Departments of various states, organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Government of Assam, at Guwahati on October 05, 2018.