Manipur’s Tamenglong, one of the most backward districts including Noney (pre-revised district delineation) will be getting Rs 90 crores as additional fund above the normal budget under Hill Area Development Programme.
There are 16 districts in the state including 10 in the hills.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has approved the much awaited Topographical Need Based Budgeting for the district, official sources in Imphal said.
In the Composite District Infrastructure Index 2009 prepared by Ministry of DoNER, Tamenglong district was ranked 75th out of 80 districts of the North Eastern Region.
The index brings out the stark difference between infrastructure indices of valley areas compared to hill districts in the States like Manipur, Assam and Tripura where the topography consists of both hills and valley.
The Programme will be implemented on pilot basis for a period of two years i.e. 2018-19 and 2019-20. The pilot scheme aims for a holistic and inclusive development of the hill district.
The components of the HADP include physical infrastructure like Multi-Purpose Community Structures, water supply, etc., not covered by any other scheme, up-gradation of roads/bridges which would link major production centres, tourism sites, health facilities, up-gradation of sports grounds, setting up of Technological Facilitation Centres (TFC) in Tamenglong for unleashing the potential of natural resources such as cane, bamboo, orange, medicinal herbs, spices including herb spices, etc., and promotion of eco-tourism among others.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren also lauded the central authority to particularly the DoNER ministry for approving the TNBB in the region.
It may be worth mentioning here that soon after its formation in March 2017, the present BJP-led government in the State had been pressing the Central Government for introduction of TNBB in States where topography consists of both hill and valley.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had already written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26, 2017 requesting to re-start the HADP in the states of Manipur, Tripura & Assam where the topography consists of both hills and valley.