CPA urges completion of India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will be merged with the North Eastern Council (NEC) following a resolution adopted during the 21st Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region Zone-III. The conference, which commenced on September 27, was held at the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Session Hall and focused on improving governance and development in the region.
Key dignitaries, including Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Chairman of CPA, India Region, were present at the conference. Officials confirmed that the decision to merge the DoNER Ministry with the NEC was made after thorough deliberation during a plenary discussion.
According to officials, participants of the conference emphasized the need for a separate Departmental Related Standing Committee (DRSC) in Parliament, dedicated to overseeing the Ministry of DoNER and NEC. This move, they argued, would “strengthen legislative oversight” and ensure the effective implementation of development schemes and policies in the region.
The conference concluded that merging DoNER with NEC would “ensure greater accountability” and enhance the coordination of development projects across the northeastern states. It also discussed the role of the Northeast MPs forum in advocating for these changes with the Centre, Lok Sabha Speaker, and Rajya Sabha Chairman.
The event saw participation from Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Nagaland Assembly Speaker and CPA India Region Zone-III Chairman Sharingain Longkumer, and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, among other prominent leaders.
Throughout the two-day event, delegates addressed various key topics, including the inclusion of the Northeast region in the India-ASEAN vision for trade and cooperation. The resolution for this inclusion was also adopted, with the conference highlighting the region’s potential to become a “growth engine for the nation” due to its international border connectivity.
The conference further urged the Centre to accelerate infrastructure projects such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which are vital for improving connectivity in the region. It also called for the identification and upgrading of international trading outposts, especially in Manipur’s Moreh, Zokhawthar in Mizoram, Pangsha and Avangkhu in Nagaland, and Pangsu Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.
In addition to infrastructure, the CPA conference pushed for more efforts to boost tourism in the Northeast, acknowledging the region’s “rich cultural diversity and resources” and its potential for employment generation. It also advocated for promoting cultural exchange programmes between Northeastern states and ASEAN nations to enhance foreign trade opportunities.
The CPA conference lauded the Central government’s ongoing efforts to uplift the socio-economic status of the Northeast under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Act East Policy,” referring to the region as “Ashtalakshmi” for its economic potential. (With inputs from PTI and India Today NE)