Lok Sabha Question No. 261 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Infrastructure Development in North Eastern States
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Saikia Dilip

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  *261

To be answered on Monday, March 20, 2023/Phalguna 29, 1944 (Saka)

## QUESTION Infrastructure Development in North Eastern States

 *261. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  infrastructure  development  undertaken  by  the  Government  to enhance connectivity between rural and urban areas in the North Eastern States during the last three years;
- (b) the status of electrification of rural areas in the North Eastern States;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for the farmers to promote the cultivation of cash crops in these areas; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER The Minister of  the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

[Shri G. Kishan Reddy]

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *261 for answer on 20.03.2023

(a) Government of  India  is  implementing  various  flagship  and  other  schemes  for  the development  of  the  North  Eastern  Region  through  the  respective  administrative Ministries/Departments within the approved financial outlays as per scheme design. As per extant policy of the Government,  fifty-five non-exempted  Central  Ministries/ Departments  are  mandated  to  spend  at  least  10%  of  their  Gross  Budgetary  Support (GBS)  for  Central  Sector  and  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  in  the  North  Eastern Region  (NER)  for  the  overall  development  of  the  region  including  infrastructure development.  Under  10%  GBS,  an  expenditure  of  Rs.3.84  lakh  crores  has  been incurred  by  these  Central  Ministries/  Departments  since  financial  year  2014-15.  The year-wise details of Budget Estimates, Revised Estimates and Actual Expenditure under 10% GBS since financial year 2014-15 is given below:

| Year-wise details of Budget Estimates, Revised EstimatesActual Expenditure under 10% GBS (Rs. in crores)   | Year-wise details of Budget Estimates, Revised EstimatesActual Expenditure under 10% GBS (Rs. in crores)   | Year-wise details of Budget Estimates, Revised EstimatesActual Expenditure under 10% GBS (Rs. in crores)   | Year-wise details of Budget Estimates, Revised EstimatesActual Expenditure under 10% GBS (Rs. in crores)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                                       | Budget Estimate                                                                                            | Revised Estimate                                                                                           | Actual Expenditure                                                                                         |
| 36,108                                                                                                     | 27,359                                                                                                     | 24,819                                                                                                     | 2014-15                                                                                                    |
| 29,088                                                                                                     | 29,669                                                                                                     | 28,674                                                                                                     | 2015-16                                                                                                    |
| 29,125                                                                                                     | 32,180                                                                                                     | 29,368                                                                                                     | 2016-17                                                                                                    |
| 43,245                                                                                                     | 40,972                                                                                                     | 39,753                                                                                                     | 2017-18                                                                                                    |
| 47,995                                                                                                     | 47,088                                                                                                     | 46,055                                                                                                     | 2018-19                                                                                                    |
| 59,370                                                                                                     | 53,374                                                                                                     | 48,534                                                                                                     | 2019-20                                                                                                    |
| 60,112                                                                                                     | 51,271                                                                                                     | 48,564                                                                                                     | 2020-21                                                                                                    |
| 68,020                                                                                                     | 68,440                                                                                                     | 70,874                                                                                                     | 2021-22                                                                                                    |
| 2022-23                                                                                                    | 76,040                                                                                                     | 72,540                                                                                                     | 47,785*                                                                                                    |
| Total                                                                                                      | 4,49,103                                                                                                   | 4,22,893                                                                                                   | 3,84,426                                                                                                   |

Source: Statement 11 of Union Budget of various years

Note: Actual Expenditure figures are provisional and subject to vetting of Ministry of Finance.

* Total  GBS  expenditure  of  all  55  Ministries/Departments  for  the  current year 2022-23 up to the end of Third Quarter i.e. 31.12.2022.

The  total  expenditure  by  Central  Infrastructure  Ministries/Departments  was Rs.4726  crore  in  2014-15  which  has  increased  to  Rs.  23293  crore  in  2021-22  (an increase  of  392%).During  the  last  three  years,  the  expenditure  made  by  these Ministries/Departments is Rs. 45836 crore.

Several  infrastructure  development  projects  have  been  taken  up  by  the  concerned central  Ministries  and  Departments  in  North  Eastern  Region  (NER),  which,  inter-alia, include:

##  Road connectivity:

A  total  of  4686  km  of  National  Highways  have  been  sanctioned  by  Ministry  of  Road Transport  &  Highways  in  NER  in  the  last  03  years  amounting  to  Rs.  60,093  crores. Major ongoing Capital Road Connectivity projects in NER include 4 laning of DimapurKohima Road (77.87 km) in Nagaland; 4 laning of Nagaon bypass to Holongi (167 km) in  Arunachal  Pradesh;  Alternate  two-lane  Highway  from  Bagrakote  to  Pakyong  (NH717A) (152 km) in Sikkim; 2 laning of Aizawl-Tuipang NH-54 (351 km) in Mizoram; 4 laning of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 (20 km) and 2-laning of 75.4 km in Manipur.

Under  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana  (PMGSY)  in  North  Eastern  States  since 2019-20,  a  total  road  length  of  22708  km  has  been  completed,  at  an  expenditure Rs.21,893 crore connecting 3067 habitations.

In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  under  North  East Special  Infrastructure  Development  Scheme  (NESIDS)  and  North  East  Road  Sector Development  Scheme  (NERSDS)  have  sanctioned  77  road  projects  amounting  to Rs.3372.58 crore.

##  Rail connectivity:

19 railway infrastructure projects, falling fully/ partly in North Eastern States,  covering total length of 1909 km at a cost of Rs. 77,930 crore have been undertaken during the last  three  years  and  are  at  different  stages  of  planning/  approval/  execution.  Out  of these, 409 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of Rs. 30,312 crore has been incurred upto March 2022.

##  Air connectivity:

Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)UDAN  (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) on 21.10.2016 to enhance regional air connectivity across  the  country  from  unserved  and  underserved  airports  in  the country and making air travel affordable to the masses.

Airports at Rupsi, Tezu, Tezpur, Pasighat, Jorhat, Lilabari, Shillong, Pakyong, Itanagar & Dimapur involving 64 routes have been operationalised under UDAN in the North  Eastern  Region.  There  were  9  operational  airports  in  2014  in  the  North  East Region.  Presently,  there are 16  operational  airports in  the  North  East  Region. Additionally, Advanced landing Ground at Ziro has also been operationalized.

##  Waterway connectivity:

During the last three years, 4 Waterway projects/works costing Rs.1040.71 crore have been sanctioned in North Eastern Region, details of which are as under:

| Sl. No.   | Project /Work                                                                                                                             |   Cost (Rs.in cr.) |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| 1         | Comprehensive Development of NW-2 (River Brahamputra)                                                                                     |             474    |
| 2         | Comprehensive Development of NW-16 (River Barak)                                                                                          |             148    |
| 3         | Construction of Ship Repair Facility at Pandu (Guwahati) and development of Alternate Road Connectivity to Pandu Port (River Brahmaputra) |             388    |
| 4         | Development of IWT on river Khawthlangtuipui- Tuichawng in Lunglei District, Mizoram                                                      |               6.18 |
| 5         | Development of Inland Water Transport on Gumti River in Tripura                                                                           |              24.53 |
|           | Total                                                                                                                                     |            1040.71 |

##  Telecom connectivity:

Department  of  Telecommunications  has  undertaken  several  projects  in  the  North Eastern  States  for  strengthening  telecom  connectivity  in  the  region,  which,  interalia, include: -

- (i) Arunachal Pradesh and 2 Districts of Assam Project:   Under this project 1,683 villages of Arunachal Pradesh and 691 villages in 2 Districts of Assam (KarbiAnglong& Dima Hasao) are proposed to be covered by installing 980 mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh and 531 mobile towers in 2 Districts of Assam (KarbiAnglong& Dima Hasao) respectively. The project cost is Rs 1255.59 crore.
- (ii) Meghalaya  Project:  Under  this  project,1164  villages  along  with  11  National Highways in the State of Meghalaya are to be covered by installing 889 mobile towers. The project cost is Rs. 804.37 crore. An additional 723 villages of Meghalaya are also

proposed to be covered by installing 528 mobile towers under this scheme at the cost of Rs.167.59 crore.

- (iii) Provision of mobile Services in uncovered villages in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland,  Tripura,  Sikkim  and  Arunachal  Pradesh  (National  Highways  only)  of  NER and  seamless  coverage  along  National  Highway.  A  total  of  1358  towers  have  been commissioned under the scheme.
- (iv) For making available high quality and high-speed internet access to the States of North Eastern Region of the country, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) hired 20 Gbps  International  Bandwidth  for  Internet  Connectivity  to  Agartala  from  Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), Bangladesh via Cox Bazar/Kuakata. The first 10 Gbps link was commissioned on 26-11-2021 and the second 10 Gbps link was commissioned on 21-04-2022. The project was completed with a cost of Rs. 17.15 crore through Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
- (v) In  addition  to  mobile  projects,  BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.6 lakh) in the country. Now, the scope of the project has been expanded to all inhabited villages. Current status of BharatNet Project in North Eastern States is as under:
- (vi) A pilot project for rolling out of 5 Lakh FTTH connections in GPs /villages across the  country  (including  NER)  using  BhartNet  through  BharatNetUdyamies  (BNUs)  with

| S. No.   | State/UT          | Total Planned GPs   | OFC laid (km)   | Service Ready GPs on OFC   | Service Ready GPs on Satellite   | Total Service Ready GPs (OFC + Satellite)   |
|----------|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Arunachal Pradesh | 1,796               | 1519            | 79                         | 885                              | 964                                         |
| 2        | Assam             | 2,665               | 4877            | 1,506                      | 5                                | 1,511                                       |
| 3        | Manipur           | 2,782               | 634             | 315                        | 1,152                            | 1,467                                       |
| 4        | Meghalaya         | 1,792               | 1069            | 122                        | 560                              | 682                                         |
| 5        | Mizoram           | 762                 | 689             | 41                         | 411                              | 452                                         |
| 6        | Nagaland          | 983                 | 2000            | 116                        | 116                              | 232                                         |
| 7        | Sikkim            | 185                 | 942             | 26                         | 9                                | 35                                          |
| 8        | Tripura           | 1,114               | 1686            | 587                        | 142                              | 729                                         |
|          | Total             | 12,079              | 13,416          | 2,792                      | 3,280                            | 6,072                                       |

financial support from USOF is being implemented by BSNL. As on 14-03-2023, total 2,04,170 FTTH connections have been provided under the pilot project across country.

(vii) 4G saturation  Project:  Under  this  project  24680  uncovered  villages  across  the country are proposed to be covered with 4G services. It also includes upgradation to 4G service of existing 2G/3G sites at 6279 villages. These include 5665 villages of North East Region.

(b)  The status of electrification in rural areas is as under:

-  Under  the  DeenDayalUpadhyaya  Gram  JyotiYojana  (DDUGJY),  5790  villages  of North Eastern Region have been electrified.
-  As  reported  by  the  States,  all  the  inhabited  un-electrified  census  villages  in  the country, including NER, were electrified by 28th April, 2018.
-  Under  Pradhan  MantriSahajBijliHarGharYojna  (Saubhagya)  all  the  NER  States reported 100% household electrification of 30.04 lakh household.

Ministry of Power has also undertaken power generation (hydro/thermal) projects since 2014 in the North Eastern States. Further, the transmission and distribution network has also been strengthened. 03 Hydro Electric Projects (above 25 MW) totaling to 740 MW have been undertaken in the North Eastern States. A Gas based Power Project in the State of Assam viz. Lakhwa Replacement Power Project of 69.755 MW capacity (7 x 9.965MW)  by  M/s  Assam  Power  Generation  Corporation  Ltd.  was  commissioned  on 14.02.2018.

Further, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) is executing two major Intra State power  transmission  and  distribution  schemes  viz.  (i)  North  Eastern  Region  Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) for Six States (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland) for strengthening of the Intra-State Transmission and Distribution Systems (33kV and above) at an estimated cost of Rs.6,700 crore; and (ii) Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution System in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.9,129.32 crores. In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  under  North  East Special Infrastructure Development(NESID) Scheme  have sanctioned 06 power projects amounting to Rs. 273.01 crore.

In  the  renewable  power  sector,  a  total  generation  capacity  of  578.54  MW  has  been installed  in  the  North  Eastern  Region  and  Sikkim  (including  in  rural  areas)  as  on 28.02.2023 as per details given below: -

| State-wise installed capacity of Renewable Power as on 28.02.2023.   | State-wise installed capacity of Renewable Power as on 28.02.2023.   | State-wise installed capacity of Renewable Power as on 28.02.2023.   | State-wise installed capacity of Renewable Power as on 28.02.2023.   | State-wise installed capacity of Renewable Power as on 28.02.2023.   | State-wise installed capacity of Renewable Power as on 28.02.2023.   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                               | States                                                               | Small Hydro Power                                                    | Bio Power                                                            | Solar Power                                                          | Total Capacity                                                       |
| S. No.                                                               | States                                                               | (MW)                                                                 | (MW)                                                                 | (MW)                                                                 | (MW)                                                                 |
| 1                                                                    | Arunachal Pradesh                                                    | 133.11                                                               | 0.00                                                                 | 11.64                                                                | 144.75                                                               |
| 2                                                                    | Assam                                                                | 34.11                                                                | 2.00                                                                 | 147.93                                                               | 184.04                                                               |
| 3                                                                    | Manipur                                                              | 5.45                                                                 | 0.00                                                                 | 12.28                                                                | 17.73                                                                |
| 4                                                                    | Meghalaya                                                            | 32.53                                                                | 13.80                                                                | 4.15                                                                 | 50.48                                                                |
| 5                                                                    | Mizoram                                                              | 45.47                                                                | 0.00                                                                 | 8.02                                                                 | 53.49                                                                |
| 6                                                                    | Nagaland                                                             | 31.67                                                                | 0.00                                                                 | 3.04                                                                 | 34.71                                                                |
| 7                                                                    | Sikkim                                                               | 55.11                                                                | 0.00                                                                 | 4.69                                                                 | 59.80                                                                |
| 8                                                                    | Tripura                                                              | 16.01                                                                | 0.00                                                                 | 17.53                                                                | 33.54                                                                |
|                                                                      | Total (MW)                                                           | 353.46                                                               | 15.80                                                                | 209.28                                                               | 578.54                                                               |

(c)& (d) The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing a scheme on  commercial  crops  viz.,  cotton,  jute  &  sugarcane  in  19  states  including  4  North Eastern States viz., Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya & Nagaland for enhancing production &  productivity  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  from  2014-15.  Jute  & Cotton programme is being implemented in Assam & Tripura. Jute programme is being implemented in Meghalaya & Nagaland. The scheme provides support to the farmers for  the  transfer  of  technology  through  demonstrations  &  training.  An  amount  of Rs.2095.16 lakh as central share has been allocated to North Eastern States under the scheme since 2019-20 till 2022-23, as detailed below:

(Rs. in lakh)

| State   | Crop   |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   Total |
|---------|--------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
| Assam   | Jute   |    278.19 |    278.19 |    230.4  |    185.94 |  972.72 |
| Assam   | Cotton |     26.91 |     14.9  |     15.3  |     14.13 |   71.24 |
| Assam   | Total  |    305.1  |    293.09 |    245.7  |    200.07 | 1043.96 |
| Tripura | Jute   |    126.82 |    126.8  |     77.38 |     62.28 |  393.28 |

|             | Cotton   |   71.38 |   71.38 |   54.90 |   51.64 |   249.3 |
|-------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
|             | Total    |  198.2  |  198.18 |  132.28 |  113.92 |  642.58 |
| Meghalaya   | Jute     |   70.98 |   77.91 |   39.59 |   32.3  |  220.78 |
| Meghalaya   | Total    |   70.98 |   77.91 |   39.59 |   32.3  |  220.78 |
| Nagaland    | Jute     |   57.92 |   57.92 |   39.6  |   32.4  |  187.84 |
| Nagaland    | Total    |   57.92 |   57.92 |   39.6  |   32.4  |  187.84 |
| Grand Total |          |  632.2  |  627.1  |  457.17 |  378.69 | 2095.16 |

Further,  under  Department  of  Commerce,  there  are  four  schemes  pertaining  to  Tea Board,  Coffee  Board,  Rubber  Board  and  Spices  Board  under  which  assistance  is provided  to  growers  /  farmers  for  planting  /  re  planting  of  tea,  coffee,  rubber  and cardamom. The schemes are Tea Board's "Tea Development & promotion Scheme", Coffee Board's "Integrated Coffee Development Projects", Rubber Board's " Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber " and Spices Board 's Integrated Scheme for Export Promotion & Quality Improvement in Spices and Development of Cardamom. Under these schemes, there are specific provisions for supporting cultivation of these crops in North East Region.

| Year wise Expenditure of Plantation Boards under 10% GBS for the North Eastern Region for last three years (Rs. in crores)   | Year wise Expenditure of Plantation Boards under 10% GBS for the North Eastern Region for last three years (Rs. in crores)   | Year wise Expenditure of Plantation Boards under 10% GBS for the North Eastern Region for last three years (Rs. in crores)   | Year wise Expenditure of Plantation Boards under 10% GBS for the North Eastern Region for last three years (Rs. in crores)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Commodity Boards                                                                                                             | 2020-21                                                                                                                      | 2021-22                                                                                                                      | 2022-23 (Upto 3rd Quarter)                                                                                                   |
| Tea Board                                                                                                                    | 74.2                                                                                                                         | 42.43                                                                                                                        | 17.21                                                                                                                        |
| Coffee Board                                                                                                                 | 10.45                                                                                                                        | 8.19                                                                                                                         | 5.55                                                                                                                         |
| Rubber Board                                                                                                                 | 28.43                                                                                                                        | 41.65                                                                                                                        | 20.77                                                                                                                        |
| Spice Board                                                                                                                  | 7.63                                                                                                                         | 8.49                                                                                                                         | 8.49                                                                                                                         |
| Total                                                                                                                        | 120.71                                                                                                                       | 100.76                                                                                                                       | 52.02                                                                                                                        |

*****