Agartala, Aug 27: In a major boost to the welfare of Janajati people in Tripura, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promised a big project for the Tribal areas of the state on Friday.

Sitharaman said, "A Rs. 1300-crore project for 'Sustainable Livelihood and Infrastructure Development' in Tribal areas will be cleared within 7-10 days."

Addressing a programme after inaugurating 11 significant projects of Rs. 189 crore at Mohanpur School ground in West Tripura district, she expressed hope that the Rs. 1300-crore project with World Bank funding would ensure an all-round development in the Tribal areas.

She also made another announcement that two other projects of over Rs. 21 crore were cleared by the Centre on Friday morning itself. The two projects included widening of state highways (Rs. 14.15 crore) and various works in the capital city (7.4 crore).

The Union Minister also praised the Biplab Kumar Deb-led government's development works in the state and said that unprecedented works were done over the past three years. She said, inauguration of so many projects together was the best example.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the projects.

The Union Finance Minister, who arrived in Tripura on a two-day visit, inaugurated total 11 projects as well as reviewed the status of ongoing Externally-Aided Projects at State Guest House, Agartala.

Soon after her arrival in the state, Sitharaman chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the on-going Externally-Aided Projects in the state. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Secretary Kumar Alok and other high officials were present in the meeting.

According to a tweet from Sitharaman’s office, the EAPs include Project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management in Tripura (funding by JICA), Tripura Urban and Tourism Development Project (funded by Asian Development Bank), 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 other livelihood support.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb in a social media post said that the Union Minister congratulated the state government for the works done through EAPs in Tripura for a holistic development.

"Attended the Externally Aided Project's review meeting with FM Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji. Deputy CM Shri Jishnu Devvarma ji and other officials were present on the occasion. These EAPs are important for the holistic development of the state and the betterment of the livelihood of its citizens. FM Nirmala Sitharaman ji congratulates the state officials on the work done through EAPs for the holistic development of the state,” Deb wrote on his official Facebook handle.

The Union Minister then joined another programme at Mohanpur where she accompanied by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Education minister Ratanlal Nath inaugurated 11 projects worth Rs. 189 crore.

The projects include- 132 KV sub-station at Mohanpur, constructed under North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) funded by World Bank (Rs. 38.03 Cr), inauguration of 80,000 Functional Household Tap Connections provided under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) along with 132 Drinking Water Supply Schemes– Project cost Rs. 66 crore, inauguration of 7 projects implemented under RIDF/SPA Project cost Rs. 65 crore and inauguration of three Surface Water Treatment plants at Rampur, Pragati and Badharghat, funded by ADB under North East Region Urban Development Project (Project Cost Rs. 20 crore).

On the way to Mohanpur, the Union Minister visited Covid Vaccination Centre at Gandhigram where she interacted with the health officials and beneficiaries.

Later a tweet from Sitharaman’s office said, “As on August 27, 33,24,427 anti-COVID vaccine doses have been administered in Tripura. 24,53,931 beneficiaries have received the first dose while 8,70,496 beneficiaries have received the second dose of vaccine. Tripura has 358 sites conducting vaccination.”

In this context, the Chief Minister tweeted that the people of Tripura were participating enthusiastically in the world's largest vaccination drive led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Accompanied by the Chief Minister and officials concerned, the Union Minister then paid a visit to Hatipara Forest Complex at Gandhigram. She inspected the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Centre and Agar plantation where she was apprised by the officials about the potentials of Tripura’s Agar sector. She also planted a sapling.

Later in the evening, the Union Finance Minister visited Freedom Fighter Girendra Chandra Banik at his Badharghat residence, Agartala.

On the next day, Sitharaman will visit Matabari in Udaipur and then Dasarath Deb Memorial School Ground at Killa village council under Gomati district where she will hold a meeting and interact with the members of women-run Self-Help Groups.

She is also scheduled to flag-off a mobile van of Tripura State Cooperative Bank Ltd on the occasion of 7th anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, before leaving the state.