Road connectivity panacea for development: Apang

Itanagar, Apr 05 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has stressed on good road connectivity for overall development of the state.

In an hour-long discussion with the Planning Commission member Anwarul Hoda, who called him last evening, the chief minister said the state could not address the problems in agriculture or horticulture sector due to allocation of fund on population criteria and lack of organised marketing facilities for produces, which ultimately hamper economic development of the state, informed official sources today.

Pointing out the problems in transporting perishable goods especially horticulture produces and communication problems along the neighbouring state, Mr Apang said, ''We need good road from the lower belt to the interior areas besides airports in the foothill areas for transportation facilities. Packaging facilities, including cargo subsidy if provided in the foothill areas, the people of the state will prosper''.

Stressing on setting up of a refinery in his state, the chief minister said at present the state get royalty for crude produce only whereas the others get for the finished products also. Mr Apang also reiterated that the expenditure incurred in the state should be taken as investment, as it would be a donor state in the future.

''I want to find ways and means to get out of turn funding for developmental projects in the state'', Hoda said while apprising the chief minister of his objective of visiting the state, sources added.

UNI