Dorjee urges for higher allocation of funds to border areas

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today stressed the need for speedy development of border areas.

Addressing the 54th NDC meeting here, Mr Khandu said the allocation under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is not adequate enough to match the growing demands of the settlers of border areas and living conditions of the other parts particularly in border areas of China.

He said Andhra Pradesh has a very long international border, special attention is needed to be given to the border areas to provide basic amenities of life to villages situated near the international borders.

He said in this context the recommendations of the task force on the BADP constituted by the Planning commission should be converted into reality in a time bound manner by evolving appropriate policies and programmes to obviate a sense of negligence among our poor people which will ultimately arrest immigration and large scale exodus from border areas.

He also stressed the need for active promotion of border trade of the landlocked state which has got 1680 Km of international borders with three neighbouring countries -- Myanmar, Bhutan and Tibet (China) and suggested that the trade points at Pangsu Pass (Nampong, Changlang district), Bletting and Bumla (both in Tawang district), Jorgoing, Gelling, Kibitho, Nampong, Mechuka, Taksing and Sarli be taken up for facilitating border trade with Myanmar, Bhutan and Tibet (China) for free flow of goods and trade between Arunachal Pradesh and its neighbours. Unless huge investment is made, promotion of border trade will be a far cry, he added.

He said in view of the overall backwardness of the state, all the 16 districts should be covered under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF).

UNI