The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Saturday (24 July) laid the foundation stone for the Multipurpose Convention Centre and Exhibition Facility of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Shillong.

President of NESAC, Amit Shah, also presided over the high-level review meeting regarding the operation of the Space Science and Technology centre.

The Union Home Minister chaired another review meeting with the North Eastern States Chief Ministers to discuss the developmental and security issues.

The Union Home Minister had directed the use of NESAC for flood management in the North Eastern States in the NESAC meeting in January; in Saturday's meeting, he was told that drafts of 110 projects had been prepared in this regard. Expressing happiness over this, Amit Shah directed to store water in big lakes to make the Northeast free of floods.

"NESAC's role will be of utmost importance in making the Northeast drugs free and terrorism free and developed. Our plans will get scientific basis through NESAC Society and on this foundation a developed North-East will be made. With the coordination of MHA and NESAC, a single window system will be made so that the states can get real time information about flood management," the Home Minister said.

Speaking at the NESAC Society Meeting, Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North East Region G Kishan Reddy said that between 2014 and 2021, the assets of NESAC almost tripled from Rs 41.6 crores to Rs 112 crores.

"As all of us know, Shillong is called the 'Scotland of the East' due to its scenic beauty. However, with the efforts of NESAC, I am sure it will soon be known as the Space Tech Capital of the East," the Union Minister said.