Northeast India Shuts 5,500 km-long International Borders amid Lockdown

Guwahati, April 3, 2020:

Northeast region of India has effectively closed a stretch of 5,500 km (approx) international borders with neighboring countries during the lockdown period to keep a check on the spread of coronavirus.

During a video conference with officials of the Ministry of the Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), North Eastern Council and others, Union Minister Jitendra Singh was informed that the lockdown is being effectively enforced in the entire Northeastern region.

The officials informed that the lockdown in the Northeastern states is being effectively enforced and the region's long international border (approx 5,500 km) has been effectively closed, an official statement said. It may be mentioned here that the region shares its borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.

The DoNER Minister held a detailed review meeting while adhering to all the guidelines of social distancing, with the officers of Ministry of DoNER, NEC and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) in view of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and measures being taken to fight the same in the region.

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100 per cent work of the Ministry was being done on e-Office, making it easier to comply with the directions of government to work from home, the statement said.

All officers and staff of Ministry of DoNER and its organisations and PSUs - NEC, NEDFi, North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC), North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), CBTC and The North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCOMP) have contributed one day's salary to PM-CARES fund. The NEDFi has also contributed Rs two crore to PM-CARES fund out of their CSR funds.

Earlier, the NEC had sanctioned Rs 25 crore to Northeastern states for gap funding to fight the COVID-19 outbreak effectively. This fund would be in the nature of untied fund, which can be utilised on any activity relating to COVID-19 pandemic and not covered under existing central packages. The flexibility of untied funds would enable the states to respond quickly.

This fund would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the Ministry of DoNER/NEC to the Northeastern states under the existing schemes, the statement said.

State-wise Allocation of Funds (in crores)

The DoNER ministry has also sought projects for strengthening of health infrastructure in the Northeast states under its flagship programme - The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).

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The states have been asked to submit their proposals by April 6. The projects in health sector would be sanctioned on top priority, it said.

It may be mentioned here that the Northeast region has reported a sudden spike in the coronavirus cases. 23 cases have been reported - 20 from Assam, 2 from Manipur and 1 from Arunachal Pradesh.