Apang emphasises on AP's economic development

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Stressing that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable and integral part of the country, Chief Minister Gegong Apang today urged the Centre for the re-orientation of strategies with a special focus on the increased economic development of the State to achieve the cherished vision of the 11th Five Year Plan.

''There is an urgent need to bridge the massive economic gap that exists between our State and highly-developed States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana and punjab among others despite the fact that AP is a highly sensitive border State,'' the Chief Minister said in the 52nd Meeting of the National Development Council (NDC).

Mr Apang said the State still remained under-developed with a traditional economy.''I am constrained to say that after more than 50 years of economic planning, the Centre so far has not been able to address adequately the specific requirements of the State,'' he said.

'' The State is suffering from impaired economic development due to inhospitable terrain and disproportionately high cost of providing administrative, social and economic infrastructure. It is laging behind the national average in most levels of infrastructure,'' said Mr Apang.

The Chief Minister said it was pre-requisite while concretising policies of the 11th Five Year Plan that historical neglect, extent of economic backwardness, requirement of threshold level of development, ethnic, cultural and physiographical diversity of the State must be recognised.

''I strongly feel that for achieving inclusive growth for Arunachal Pradesh, a predominantly tribal State, the Planning Commission should focus on consolidating gains, reinforcing strenghts and addressing weaknesses of our past planning processes during the 11th Plan,'' he said.

On the envisaged GDP growth rate of nine per cent, the Chief Minister said apart from reforms process, the Union Government should augment the investment substantially in backward states like Arunachal Pradesh.

''The State is entirely dependent on the Central assistance to meet its requirement of funds for the development. Although the envisaged growth rate is admirable, Arunachal Pradesh still has a long way to go before dreaming of such a high rate of growth,'' he said.

Expressing concern over the problem of poverty , Mr Apang said during the 11th Five Year Plan, poverty alleviation programmes would have to be intensified for their adoptabiltity in the State.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for setting of monitorable socio economic targets in key areas such as income and poverty, education, health, women and children and environment.

''It is desirable that targets for each identified sector are finalised in consultation with the individual States. the specific targets should be based on an assessment of the State's potential and additional flow of resources should be ensured for this purpose,'' he said.

Expressing concern over Railways which have only a token presence in the state, the Chief Minister said the long felt demands for upgradation of Guwahati-Murkongselek meter gauge line to board gauge, construction of new lines from Harmutty to Itanagar, Murkongselek to Pasighat in East Siang district and extension of railway link from Lekhapani in Asom to Kharsang in AP have not yet materialised.

He demanded that these lines be declared as projects of national importance by the Centre and the Planning Commission as they could generate highest revenue for the state.

Among other key issues that figured in Mr Apang address in the NDC were road infrastructure, air infrastructure, hydro power, mineral resources, Bharat Nirman programme, CSS and funding pattern, agriculture and horticulture, bio-diversity, employment opportunies, industries, gender equality, border trade and areas, regional disparities and public-private partnership.

UNI HS AT KN1819