Tourism to help development: Apang

Itanagar, Feb 23 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has stressed on peace as the pre-requisite for socio-economic for development of the state.

Inaugurating the two-day third Namdapha Eco Cultural Festival at Miao in Changlang district yesterday, Mr Apang exhorted the leaders and general people to ensure peace for overall development.

He disclosed that initiative had been taken to create a Tinsukia -Miao-Jairampur-Pansu Pass-Changlang-Khonsa-Longding-Deomali-Tinsukia tourist circuit, official sources said here today.

While assuring to urge the Centre to declare the festival a national one, Mr Apang called upon the leaders to patronise it.

Terming Miao as a 'mini India', he said it could be the centre for more important events in the future.

Stating that the festival would help in economic development of the area, he urged the people to cooperate to make the festival a success.

Dwelling at length on importance of tourism for socio-economic development, the chief minister said, ''Tourism department can only facilitate but it is you who have to act and work.'' He lauded the Army for conducting recruitment rallies in the district and hoped that employment in armed forces would solve half of the employment problem of the state.

Requesting the forest and environment departments to cooperate in accelerating developmental activities, he said many developmental projects were stopped midway due to forest objection.

State Assembly Speaker Setong Sena also spoke on the occasion.

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