It was at the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that development of the North East region at all spheres began, maintained Union Minister for Waterways etc Sarbananda Sonwal as he referred to the Astha Laxmi concept as envisaged the Prime Minister.
While speaking at programme with BJP intellectuals, activists and others the Union Minister took a dig at the previous Congress governments for keeping the North Region perpetually neglected.
He, however, sought to press that the Astha Laxmi concept was not a result of any political idea, but of scientifically developed concept for total and comprehensive development of the region.
“The Prime Minister came up with the idea of Astha Laxmi concept after studying the potential and possibilities of the region in depth”, he added. Now the infrastructure development process had been put in pipelines on the basis of science and technological knowledge.
Sonwal pointed out that not only floating the development ideas, the Prime Minister also asked his ministerial colleagues to move and visit the region at regular intervals in a reach out endeavour.
“Under his directions the Union Ministers are now visiting the region so as to expedite development works. In fact, the Prime Minister himself visited the Northeast for about 50 times – which is the highest number of visit of any Prime minister”, said the Union Minister.
The minister of waterways also stressed on the fast developing communications in the region that added fuel to the Gati Shakti -national master plan for multi-modal connectivity.
“The idea is to include 16 ministries including railways and roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects”, he said Sonowal.
In his speech Sonwal also praised the Biplab Deb led government of the state for bringing in transformation in all sectors.
