Shillong, Sept 8: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan laid the foundation stones of five projects in the water, roads, health and power sectors of Meghalaya worth over Rs 1010 crore. During a public reception for the VP at the U Soso Tham Auditorium, Radhakrishnan digitally laid the foundation stones and said, “Progress of the Northeast is integral for the progress of India.”

The VP said development should be “inclusive” and none of the “tribal groups should be left out”. He further said that development should go hand in hand with the preservation of the environment, tradition and culture.

“Sustainable growth has to be ensured,” he said. Under the Act East policy, Radhakrishnan said, the Centre has recognised connectivity as the key for growth.

“Without connectivity there cannot be any growth,” he said, adding that the region’s prosperity depends on “physical, digital, economic development and people-to-people movement”. In the last decade, 46,000 km of rural road has been constructed in the Northeast under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana with an estimated cost of over Rs 47,000 crore, he informed the gathering.

On the inauguration of the maternity and children hospital at Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills, under the National Health Mission, built for Rs 31 crore, Radhakrishnan said strengthening maternal and child care is essential for building a healthy and prosperous society. 58-crore New Shillong Water Supply Scheme.

The project would provide safe drinking water to New Shillong City and its adjoining areas. 5 crore-32/33 kV power substation at Mawkhanu, the 110-metre bridge over the Umngot river costing Rs.

86 crore and the Umsen-Barapathar road at a cost of Rs 56 crore.