CM Pema Khandu urges people to drop ‘exorbitant’ land compensation demand

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday urged the people to cooperate with the government in the development process without claiming exorbitant land compensation against important projects.

Addressing a public meeting at Kodak Village under Taliha constituency in Upper Subansiri district, Khandu said that due to various compensation issues, many important road projects in the district are pending.

“Smooth connectivity to Itanagar and construction of a road from Taliha to Tato are being delayed due to compensation issues,” he pointed out.

The Chief Minister said that the people of Western Arunachal should learn from Eastern Arunachal where development is prioritized over seeking compensation.

He said community apex bodies in Eastern Arunachal have been very effective in solving compensation issues and also in convincing people to not hamper development process by demanding compensation. Similarly, community apex bodies in western Arunachal could play effective role in expediting the development process.

The Chief Minister said the State Government always looks upon community apex bodies for its assistance in development, an official communique informed.

“Arunachal Pradesh has huge potential in the sectors of hydro, agriculture, mines and minerals but could not be utilized to its full potential because of our own weakness to overcome shortcomings in policy decisions, bureaucracy and in exerting political will,” he said and urged the people for cooperation to local MLAs and government officers in realizing the state’s full potential.

Khandu also requested the local MLAs to prioritise schemes and called for a robust planning process. He informed that funds under MLA would be increased so that development in respective constituencies could be boosted.

Responding to public demand, the chief minister assured for a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School for Upper Subansiri district. He also assured that the state government would take up matter relating to expediting works on Tato-Taliha road by BRO.

Khandu informed that an all party meeting would be called soon to decide whether the upcoming panchayat election would be fought on non-party basis and added that the decision would be taken as per the outcome of the meeting.

Khandu was accompanied by Union Minister of State (Independent) for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju, State Tourism Minister Nakap Nalo and MLAs including Nyato Rigia (Taliha), Rode Bui (Dumporijo) and Tanya Soki (Daporijo), the communiqué added.

Also Watch: Six-mile to Ganeshguri Road Closed due to Overbridge construction; Public inconvenienced.