Sinha assures Centre's special dispensation to Arunachal

Itanagar, Oct 03 (UNI) The inter-ministerial team led by Planning Commission (State Plan-North East) advisor A N P Sinha has assured special dispensation to Arunachal Pradesh during a visit to border areas recently.

State Chief Minister Gegong Apang during a discussion with the team highlighted the peculiar needs of his state.

He said the East-West highway and railway line and the proposed Greenfield Airport at Karsingsa, Pasighat and Tezu could break the chains of isolations of this land-locked state.

Moreover, a civil secretariat building here, construction of 132 KV state grid from East to West, upgradation of the hospitals, border trade centers at Pangsau-Pass, construction of Changlang-Khonsa road, a bridge over Lohit river in Asom should be considered on priority, the chief minister said.

State Finance and Planning Minister Kalikho Pul told UNI today that the causes of state's poor economic conditions was due to the poor transportation and communication.

Mr Pul further alleged that though Centre had given the state a special status still it is not getting the required anount of funds.

The common norms of economic viability, cost factor and population criteria for scrutiny of schemes and allocation funds should be changed considering the peculiar topography of the state, he pleaded.

He also said the cost of essential commodities is very high as due to the presence of hills and mountains.

The construction of roads is very high due to the presence of high hills and mountains and hence urged the Centre to provide more funds for the construction works.

He also stressed on construction of helipads in all remote administrative centers in the state to reduce the transportation cost.

Arunachal has huge mineral deposits like crude oil, natural gas, coal, dolomite, lime stone, graphite, marble, rich flora and fauna, including medicinal plants, and a huge potential to meet the nation's power requirement, besides, tourism and horticulture potentials, he stated.

Thus the state's 1640 km international border should be protected as it is very sensitive and strategically important, he added.

UNI XC PP DB1712