AAPSU submits representation to Minister

From our correspondent

Itagar , Sept 24: Union Minister for Transport Highways & Shipping Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday assured a delegation of All Aruchal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) to turn the dream of Trans Aruchal Highway (TAH) into a reality soon under his supervision. The AAPSU team led by its President Kamta Lapung and Spokesperson Tanya Agu met Gadkari at his official residence in New Delhi and submitted a representation. Lapung, during the meeting appraised the minister about the problems being faced by the people of the state because of the pathetic road condition in the state in general and state capital in particular, a communiqué informed. “Although it has been many years since the tender work for road construction under the TAH was won by various firms, but most of the work has not started as yet in spite of signing concession MoU and MoAs. This is despite the fact that the completion time for the same is about to get over,” informed Lapung.

He stated that out of many projects the tenders (ECI&ECC Ltd & SREI later on a joint venture nomenclature changed to PPHL) of Potin to Pangin TAH is one of them which has time and again failed to start up its work even after getting the appointment date “July 18, 2014” and withdrawing a sizeable mobilization fund amounting to Rs 45crore.

Further lamenting that this ECI&ECC Ltd Company has duped the innocent people of Aruchal Pradesh, the delegation team in the light of this revealed fact, urged the union minister to pass necessary orders to all the tenders (firms) to start their respective projects without further delay. Lapung also requested the minister to ensure that the successful bidders, after getting the mobilization fund, does not evade from the execution of their respective works as been shown in a few instances in the past and also requested for early accord/release of the compensation.

Spokesperson Tanya Agu pursued for the expedition of all the ongoing road projects in Aruchal Pradesh as road communication is the backbone for all developments and also urged the state and central government to streamline and ensure that the project is implemented as per the guideline without compromising the quality. After a threadbare discussion, the union minister gave his positive assurance to look into the subjects placed, at the earliest. He also said that he will hold a talk with the state government soon in the context of highway projects.

On compensation matter he divulged, once the realistic DPR for compensation is reached to his office then he will address to it without any further delay.

AAPSU has further appealed the denizens of Aruchal Pradesh not to politicize the developmental activities in the light of the TAH and has also requested to discard persol motive in the backdrop of setting up of an illegal structures along the ROW for the sake of compensation, the communiqué added.