PM to visit Arunachal in February

New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Arunachal Pradesh for two days from February 19, it was officially announced today.

His programme was finalised at a meeting Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang had with Dr Singh here yesterday.

Dr Singh was to have visited the state in October last, but the trip had to be cancelled due to inclement weather.

During the forthcoming visit, Dr Singh will inaugurate the Parsuram Birdge over the Lohit River and lay foundation stone of the green-field airport project at Itanagar.

He would be the Chief Guest at the Statehood Day function in Itanagar on February 20.

During the 45-minute-long discussion today Dr Singh reviewed internal and external security issues and development programmes of the state.

The decision to accord the status of a central university to Rajiv Gandhi University figured at the meeting. The details of the proposed University were also discussed.

While thanking Dr Singh for clearing seven strategic road projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Apang requested the Centre to allocate more developmental projects for the border areas of the state.

He explained to the Prime Minister the efforts taken by his government to harness the massive hydro-power potential of Arunachal Pradesh to achieve self-sufficiency in energy.

Mr Apang said he had held elaborate discussion with Defence Minister A K Atony on matters of strategic importance and border area development.

Mr Antony had agreed to be the Chief Guest at the Siang River Festival on April 13 at Yingkiong in Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh.

Tourism Minister Ambika Soni would inaugurate the week-long Siang River festival on January 10. Panchayat Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar would attend the valedictory function of the festivalon January 17.

The issues of border trade and promotion of inter-state trade and commerce in the North East figured during his meeting with Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh.

Mr Apang said Mr Ramesh would visit Itanagar on January 14 and would meet entrepreneurs and representatives of various industry and commercial associations and from the state.

The Chief Minister said Siang River Festival would coincide with a meeting of Chief Ministers and other dignitaries of eight North Eastern States on the theme of hydro power development.

UNI SH VD VC1616