Future war to be fought for water, not oil: Apang

Itanagar, Aug 24: Future war will not be fought for oil but water, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang said while addressing a meeting at Yingkiong in Upper Siang district yesterday. He said Arunachal was the second state in the country which constituted the water resources authority board to monitor water resource projects and activities in the state.

The chief minister opposed the move to clamp natural resources of his state, including water, with other states as it would deprive the indigenous people of their legitimate rights in future, informed official sources here today.

Commenting on the current dry spell in the state, Mr Apang said rampant destruction of forest had resulted in adverse weather condition.

Cautioning on the environmental devastation, he called upon the people to increase and revive forest cover with massive tree plantation in the interest of the region and the country as a whole. Mr Apang also lamented that adequate fund was not allocated to develop forest which help maintain ecological and environment balance besides natural beauty of the region. ''We want infrastructure, roads to the border areas, railways, air communication and waterways. For this adequate fund should be allocated in lieu of our forest cover,'' he added.

UNI