"To execute the projects, the mandate is to properly coordinate with the other Central ministries," he told a news conference at the North Eastern Council (NEC) headquarters here on Monday.
"Our top priority will be to improve the connectivity in the region. Next comes the agriculture and horticulture sector. Tourism has also to be looked after to generate faster employment growth. Besides, we have to encourage entrepreneurship for which proper infrastructure has to be built by developing tourist circuits in all the NE states," said Ghatowar, who's also the NEC chairman.
"There is always scope for more improvement in developing the region through proper implementation of the schemes," he added.
The ministry is also supposed to explore other schemes to develop the human resource potential of the region, promote cultural heritage of different ethnic groups and tap the huge power potential, especially hydro-power to meet the shortfall in power generation.
NEC secretary U K Sangma said regarding selection of projects, it is for the state governments to prioritize the development schemes for allocation of funds. "Currently, the biggest project being undertaken in the NE is in the area of transportation," he said.
Asked about the projects that are being taken up specifically in Meghalaya, Sangma said road projects, such as the Mairang-Guwahati Airport Road, Jaintia Hills-North Cachar Road, Phulbari-Tura Road in Garo Hills and conversion of timber roads to pucca roads in rural areas, were in the pipeline. "Improvement of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Polo Grounds in Shillong is also on the government's agenda, while civil hospitals in various districts will be upgraded," he added.