Arunachal CM urges PM for higher allocation

Itanagar, Mar 8 (UNI) Chief Minister Gegong Apang has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide higher fund allocation to Arunachal Pradesh.

Mr Apang, who met the Prime Minister on Tuesday in Delhi, requested Dr Singh to give special focus on road construction under the Special Area Road Development programme, early completion of the Ranaghat bridge over Siang near Pasighat and fair weather road link to 34 unconnected administrative centres during the 11th Five Year Plan.

He urged for a one-time waiver of heavy debt burden which had been slowing down the state's development.

The Chief Minister also held a discussion with Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on the overall development of the state's hydropower sector.

Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy also assured assistance to bring Itanagar at par with other large metropolitan cities.

Referring to the Rs 1320 crore annual allocation for 2007-08, a hike of 25 per cent over the current fiscal's outlay, the Chief Minister said efforts were on to connect all administrative centres with all-season roads.

Mr Apang also met President Dr A P J Kalam, UPA Chirperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Programme Implementation Minister Oscar Fernandes and Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju.

UNI