Agartala, Mar 10: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has released financial assistance of over Rs 67 crore for a range of development initiatives across the Northeastern region, with a portion of the funds earmarked for projects in Tripura.

The total fund released for the North East states is Rs. 67,41,09,587.

In Tripura, the allocation will primarily support initiatives aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector and enhancing science education infrastructure.

A major focus of the funding is to improve fish productivity and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities dependent on fisheries. The initiative also seeks to reinforce the fisheries value chain, which is expected to benefit local farmers and entrepreneurs engaged in the sector.

Another key component of the allocation involves the development of a science park at Vigyan Gram in the state. The proposed facility is intended to promote scientific learning, innovation and public awareness, particularly among students and youth. Authorities believe the science park will encourage greater interest in scientific methods and practical learning.

Earlier in February, members of the NEC visited Tripura to assess the status of projects being executed with council funding. During their visit, they held a review meeting in Agartala with officials of the National Projects Construction Corporation Limited (NPCC), the agency responsible for implementing several projects.

The meeting focused on evaluating the progress of ongoing works and emphasised the importance of stronger coordination among implementing agencies. NEC members also stressed the need to maintain quality standards and ensure timely completion of projects.

Apart from fisheries and science-related initiatives, the NEC team also reviewed several projects linked to sectors such as education, tourism and agriculture during discussions with officials of the Tripura government.

According to an official statement issued by the NEC Secretariat, the council has also released funds under non-project components to support initiatives related to cultural preservation, knowledge sharing and tourism promotion in the Northeastern states.