Solve border dispute soon: Apang

Itanagar, Mar 29: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has reiterated his government's stand for an amicable solution to the contentious boundary dispute with Assam before giving the go ahead signal for the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric projected to be executed by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC).

Mr Apang, while participating in an all-party meeting here yesterday on whether the NHPC be allowed to continue work on the project, disclosed that the state government in principle agreed to keep the project in abeyance till the matter was settled by the Centre, according to sources here today.

Most of the members opposed the construction on the ground that Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was yet to be signed by the NHPC with the state government and the proposed project has been planned at Gogamukh in Kangu circle, a disputed area, though within the territory of Arunachal Pradesh.

Highlighting various inevitable problems, he said the project would displace around one lakh population and submerge huge cultivation land, including Gensi and Sibirite area under Gensi circle of West Siang district.

It might be mentioned here that the chief minister had told the recently concluded assembly that PSUs like NHPC would be allowed to expand their activities in the state provided they protect the interest of the state.

UNI