FM promises ~1,300 cr development package for Tripura tribal areas

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (pictured) on Friday promised that a ~1,300crore project for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Development for Tripura's Tribal areas would be cleared within the next 10 days.

Addressing a meeting after inaugurating a slew of 11 projects at Mohanpur, about 50 km from here, Sitharaman said the ~1,300-crore project with World Bank funding would ensure an all-round development in the state's tribal areas.

Tribals form one third of the state's population. In recent elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, the ruling BJP and its allies were trounced by the newly formed Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance led by a former royal, Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman, causing alarms about the future electoral prospects of the ruling alliance.

She also announced that two other projects worth over ~21 crore were cleared by the Centre on Friday morning itself. The two projects include- widening of state highways (~14.15 crore) and various works in the capital city (7.4 crore).

The Union Finance Minister, who arrived in Tripura on a two-day visit, besides inaugurating local projects worth ~189 crore, also reviewed the status of on-going Externallyaided Projects (EAPS).

Besides, Sitharaman the review meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Secretary Kumar Alok and other senior officials.

According to a tweet from Sitharaman's office, the EAPS include Project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management in Tripura (funding by Japan Internal Cooperation Agency), Tripura Urban and Tourism Development Project (funded by Asian Development Bank) and North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (funded by World Bank).

These projects are meant for overall development of the state cutting across areas like education, health, communication, infrastructure, power and livelihood support.

The Union Finance Minister also interacted with health officials and met beneficiaries of Tripura's ongoing Covid vaccination drive at a centre at Gandhigram, about 10 km from here.