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| Headlines Vol. 3 Issue No. 29 | June 7-21, 2005 |
Apang for improved road connectivity Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has urged North East Council (NEC) authorities to help improve road connectivity in the state to accelerate developmental activities.The Chief Minister told the visiting NEC member I K Borthakur that Arunachal Pradesh had vast tourism potential, which could be tapped with the help of NEC, informed official sources here today. Apprising him of top priority sectors, Mr Apang said, ''Our main demand would be for road connectivity''. Despite having huge tourism potential, the state failed to advance in this sector because of poor road communication, he said. Health and education sectors in interiors of the state were facing various problems due to lack of proper road communication, besides shortage of teachers in the interior and far-flung areas. The state government cannot take up road construction in the border areas due to defence strategy and so many areas in the state were yet to be connected by road, the chief minister said. He highlighted other communications bottlenecks, like air and inland waterways.The Chief Minister requested Dr Borthakur to pursue her good office to convince other members of the NEC, DoNER and Central Ministries to realise the problem and potential of the state in right earnest. Mr Apang said the members of planning panel should know the genesis of problem as to why the NE region was still lagging behind in spite of a huge potential and why it could not be harnessed properly. ''We are seen as liability but the members of planning body should realise we are the second line of defence and also the future economic power house,'' he said, adding, ''The planning should not only be on the basis of population, but also on the need and potential.''Chief Minister suggested that before finalizing the annual plan,it should be mandatory for the members of Planning Commission to visit the state. Expressing dismay at the attitude of the Centre in the past, the Chief Minister stated that the Centre should address pending issues such as foreign nationals, boundary dispute and so on. It should initiate action to find out amicable solutions to the problems,which are affecting several states in the NE, he added.While interacting with the Cabinet, Dr Borthakur, who is on a five-day tour of the state, informed that there was major change in the NEC's approach. The council will take up major projects in North Easthern states, she said and informed that initiative has to taken to have more interaction with officers at the sector level in different states. Problems affecting more then two or more states should be identified, she said. The NEC will approach union DoNER and other ministries for sufficient funds to implement projects, she added. While highlighting NEC's Vision 2020, she sought cooperation from the state government for realizing the dream. Earlier, Dr Borthakur called on state Governor S K Singh and discussed various issues pertaining to the state. She also held meetings with other ministers, MLAs, top bureaucrats and other government officials. Arunachal| North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page | |
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