The NITI Forum for North East India was established in February 2018 to assist in addressing diverse challenges facing the region as well as to recommend interventions to facilitate sustainable economic growth. It is chaired by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of North-Eastern Region, and Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog. The first meeting took place on 10 April 2018 in Agartala, Tripura.
The second meeting was held in Guwahati, Assam, in the month of December 2018. The focus areas identified by the forum that were discussed in five parallel sessions were bamboo, dairy, pisciculture, tea and tourism. The five parallel sessions included experts represent- ing Central and State Governments, academicians and Industry representatives. To facilitate the five sectors identified by the forum, actions points were discussed by experts and the Line Ministries were requested to act on specific points. All concerned Ministries were directed to prepare a roadmap for the implementation of the recommendations identified in the second meeting and these will be monitored.
Further, to facilitate in the implementation of the recommendations of the forum, a joint working group was constituted by NITI Aayog in September 2020 under the chairmanship of Special Secretary, Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region. During the first meeting of the group on 18 September 2021, the Line Ministries were requested to put forth more efforts on developing and promoting the five focus areas as recommended.
Proposal Evaluation for Cable Cars in Gangtok and Aizawl.
Rolling out cable cars as public transport in Gangtok and Aizawl will be done with the support of the Centre and State Governments. A partner has been retained, Ernst and Young, LLP, to conduct the study under Development Support Services to States. A meeting was hosted to review the project status on 26th August 2020 chaired by CEO, NITI Aayog.
Subansiri Project
The North-East division has worked to revive the Subansiri HEP project. The matter was actively pursued with the appropriate authorities. Following this, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the project, and the Assam Government executed an MoU with NHPC. The Arunachal Pradesh Government also executed a power purchase agreement with NHPC. As well, the Assam Government set up a task force at the State level and a task force at the lower level. Subsequently, work has started with the priority. In a meeting on 24th September 2019, chaired by the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, the appropriate authorities were directed to accomplish this work within 2.5 years.
Sivok-Rangpo and Agartala-Akhaura Rail Projects
These two rail projects are of national and strategic importance. The State Governments and stakeholders were directed to expedite the implementation of the projects. NITI Aayog has also worked to coordinate the stakeholders in resolving inter-state and inter-ministerial issues in these two projects.
