PM to visit Arunachal Pradesh this month

Itanagar, Feb 1: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will arrive at Itanagar on February 19 on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

This would be the maiden visit of Dr Singh to the state after becoming Prime Minister.

He was scheduled to come to Arunachal Pradesh last year but had to cancel his visit at the eleventh hour due to inclement weather.

Official sources said the Prime Minister's visit was confirmed when Chief Minister Gegong Apang called on him at New Delhi yesterday.

Mr Apang had a detailed discussion on Mr Singh's maiden visit, besides various developmental programmes being implemented in his state, especially the efforts of the state government to harness the massive hydropower resources.

It might be mentioned here that both the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have been taking keen personal interest in the economic development of the strategic border state.

As per the tentative tour programme, Dr Singh would fly to Arunachal Pradesh on February 19 morning from Guwahati and would first go to Lohit district to inaugurate the Brahmakund Bridge over Lohit River near Parsuramkund.

He would then go to Yingkiong, the headquarters of Upper Siang district, to lay the foundation stone of the Gandhi Bridge over River Siang near Yingkiong financed by the Ministry of DoNER from the non-lapsable pool of resources.

Dr Singh would be accorded a warm traditional reception at Yingkiong, where he would have lunch before his departure for Itanagar, to lay the foundation stone of the first green-field civilian airport at Kharsingsa near here.

The Prime Minister would make a night halt at Itanagar and would attend the Statehood Day function next day before leaving for New Delhi by an IAF helicopter, sources added.

UNI