Rajkhowa urges NEC to focus on key areas in State
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
Itagar, May 28: Aruchal Pradesh Governor J P Rajkhowa on Friday pleaded North Eastern Council (NEC) to focus on connectivity, communication facilities, environment, defence and border area development in the state.
Addressing the 65th Plery of NEC at Shillong chaired by the Prime Minister rendra Modi, Rajkhowa also highlighted other areas which need attention and consideration of NEC including tourism development, exploration of minerals, education, health, Human Resource and Skill Development.
He also called for special focus on agriculture and horticulture sectors of the state in its strive towards an organic state, an official communiqué informed here today.
Stating that Aruchal Pradesh is one of the youngest sates of India and has lagged behind on most socio-economic indicators and developmental parameters as compared to the rest of the country and at the same time strategically located state, the Governor said that the state needs continued assistance and support of the Centre and the NEC.
Drawing the attention of the Prime Minister towards the challenges of the state government, Rajkhowa said that for the socio-economic development of the state as also the success of the Act East Policy, it would be necessary to improve the road connectivity of the state with the rest of India and also to improve the connectivity within the state by connecting all the district headquarters of 20 districts, ADC headquarters, EAC headquarters, Circle headquarters as also important towns and clusters and villages, through building up or upgrading of existing tiol Highways and state roads.
Similarly the road from Assam border to the twin cities of Itagar-harlagun, which are in terrible shape, need to be maintained and upgraded as per ongoing NH-52, NH-52A, NH-415 up-gradation projects.
He added that for improving road connectivity within the state along intertiol border areas, there was a need for a Frontier Highway connecting all the important centres along the Chi-India border.
The Governor requested the PM to expedite sanction of the project which is presently under consideration of the cabinet secretariat.
Rajkhowa also highlighted on the construction of the 431 kms East-West Industrial Corridor from Bhairabkund (West Kameng district) to Ruksin (East Siang district) via Bhalukpong-Seijusa-Digalmukh-Balijan-harlagun-Kimin-Likabali-Dipa-ri, the Trans-Aruchal tiol Highway from Tawang to Longding, 12 inter-state roads in SARDP-NE and Lumla (in Tawang, Aruchal Pradesh) to Tashigang (in Bhutan) road besides strengthening the border trade between the two countries.
He also said that 160 km of the Historic Stilwell road on Myanmar side should be upgraded as part of ‘Good Will Mission’ under the Act East Policy, as the 61 km Indian portion has already been developed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways as NH- 153.
“This will largely facilitate promotion of trade and commerce as also setting up of industrial enterprises in the region under the ‘Make in India mission’,” he added.
Rajkhowa pointed out that from the strategic and defence point of view, it is felt that special road development schemes may be conceived and implemented by the Centre connecting all the identified centres with the Trans-Aruchal Highway and the proposed Frontier Highway in the state.
Expressing gratefulness to the Prime Minister for the railway connectivity, the governor requested him to increase the frequency of the daily Intercity Express to twice a day and the weekly AC Express to at least thrice a week as per public demand, with additiol coaches including AC first class.
He also requested the PM for expediting the work on other railway lines from Bhalukpong to Tawang in the West and Murkongselek in Assam to Pasighat in the East and railway links to all foothills towns and clusters along the Assam-Aruchal border for overall development of the region and in particular for development of trade, commerce, transportation of construction materials, passenger traffic etc.
Rajkhowa also drew the attention of the long awaited rail cum road Bogibeel Bridge, which requires urgent completion, the communiqué added.
