DoNER minister to discuss development with northeast CMs

Shillong, Jan 1 (IANS) DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh will Friday meet the governors and the chief ministers of all eight northeastern states here to brainstorm on a roadmap for the development of the region.

This would be the first meeting of the minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) with the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim.

"The meeting would discuss and resolve various strategies and plans on agriculture, railways, road transport and highways, civil aviation, shipping and waterways, power, communication and information technology," an official said Thursday.

Expert groups and specialists from various ministries would also make presentations highlighting the scope and available resources of the region.

The meeting would also discuss the ongoing projects of the North Eastern Council, the regional planning body.

After assuming office, Jitendra Singh had held meetings with top officials of both his ministry and the NEC besides lawmakers under the North-East MPs Forum in New Delhi.

He had assured the MPs that his role as DoNER minister will be that of a coordinator to accomplish the prime minister's objective of ensuring development of the northeast.