Former Bodo militants take pvt-public route to a new future

Set up in December 2003 after the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) agreed to lay down arms, the BTC is pulling out all the stops to rope in the private sector in infrastructure and industrial development of the region through the public private partnership (PPP) route.

Last month, a Hyderabad-based company was selected through a competitive bid process to set up a small (4 MW) hydropower project in Champamati village, making it the first PPP project in the Bodoland region. Having received encouraging interest from private companies, the Council is now in the process of calling bids for three similar projects in Borolia, Rupahi and Pohumora towns.

That’s not all. BTC is also experimenting with a new concept for another upcoming project. A 62-acre property in Kokrajhar district, located strategically on NH 31 — the only highway connecting the Northeast to the rest of India, has been acquired from tribals, many of who are former militants, on a long-term lease. Private companies have been invited to “use their imagination” to come up with any proposal for infrastructure or industrial development on that property.

The economic spin-off of such projects in an area devoid of any major infrastructure is likely to be massive. The Champamati project itself will bring in an investment of Rs 42 crore. As part of the deal, the hydel station will also give 7.5 per cent of the electricity it produces to BTC, free of cost. Similarly, the Kokrajhar project is expected to bring in anywhere between Rs 30-50 crore.

“The biggest problem that we face is that private sector companies are very hesitant to set up projects here. At the same time, we want to have self-sufficiency in power, we want schools, colleges and industries,” said Kampa Borgoyari, deputy chief executive member of the BTC who was the secretary of the Bodo Liberation Tigers. “Since we don’t have the money or the expertise to carry out these development projects on our own, we are inviting private participation and are lending every support to those interested.”

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