Apang seeks need-based funding for state's growth

Itanagar, Oct 10 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has urged the Planning Commission (PC) to provide adequate fund to explore and exploit the state's potentials for its economic development.

''The PC should appreciate the effort and initiatives of the state government and not be rigid while allocating fund,'' Mr Apang said in a meeting with special advisor to PC deputy chairman A M Gokhale here yesterday Mr Apang urged Mr Gokhale to apprise the PC of problems faced by the state and said his government was trying hard to enhance revenue from various avenues.

''The working months in the region was very less, therefore, should not scrutinise a project repeatedly but should properly monitor the work'', Mr Apang said.

Pointing out the issue of non-uniform treatment by the planning panel, Mr Apang said before planning, the members of the panel should visit the state, interact with the people and then take decisions.

''They should realize that we started from the scratch and hence deserve some special care. Treating us with the same yardstick meant for other developed states is ridiculous,'' Mr Apang observed.

On border trade, Mr Apang said the state was interested to open and revive all the earlier trade routes.

He further made it clear that the state was not a party to the North East Regional Water Management Authority and has its own water resource authority to deal with.

Commenting on North East Council's (NEC) objectives, Mr Apang said, ''the authority has gone out of our hand. The state was not benefited from it as more advanced states were benefited in the name of population or location.'' The state was not comfortable with DoNER either and therefore the PC should directly deal with the state.

However, Mr Gokhale has assured to apprise the planning commission deputy chairman regarding the problems faced by the state, sources added.

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