Enhance NEC fund to reduce regional imbalance: Apang

Itanagar, Mar 12 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has called for enhancing the NEC fund to reduce inter-state imbalance and disparities.

Addressing the special meeting of the North Eastern Council(NEC) at Guwahati recently, Mr Apang expressed his reservation over the annual plan size, official sources said here today.

The 53rd NEC meeting at Delhi on November 15 and 16 last year recommended an outlay of Rs 12, 447.38 crore for the 11th five-year plan, Mr Apang pointed out and wondered how NEC would be able to achieve its objective with its limited fund.

''Despite economic and social progress, the assigned development task of the NEC is far from satisfactory as resource continue to be limited,'' he said.

Regarding the maintenance of roads and inter-state projects, the chief minister said that his state does not agree with soe of the the Planning Commission suggestions.

It has been suggested that completed NEC roads, falling within a state, will be maintained by the concerned state government on an annual basis. However, the chief minister pointed out, his state is unable to maintain the existing roads due to poor financial resources.

Lauding the proposal of the NEC to work closely with the state government in accessing funds and technical assistance available under the central sector schemes, Mr Apang requested the regional body for considering new schemes for Arunachal Pradesh under roads, power, irrigation and flood control.

While welcoming the proposal for an inter-state bus terminus for Arunachal Pradesh at Itanagar, Mr Apang insisted that a mountaineering and adventure sports institute should also be established in Arunachal Pradesh.

UNI