Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin has urged the Centre to give environmental clearances to a number of hydro power projects in the state, officials said here on Wednesday.
Gamlin yesterday met Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan in New Delhi and briefed her about the long pending forest clearances for the Trans-Arunachal Highway as well as for various power projects, they said.
The delay in obtaining forest clearances would lead to inevitable time and cost overruns, he told Natarajan.
“In order to reduce dependence of the state government on central assistance, development of hydro power is essential as it would provide a great opportunity for boosting the state’s own revenues,” Gamlin said.
The power projects would develop infrastructure and create employment and help reduce dependence of the local populace on forest resources, he said.
Assuring full cooperation in the matter, Natarajan told Gamlin and Setong Sena, state Minister for Environment and Forests who accompanied the CM, that her ministry will look into the matter urgently.
Gamlin, who is currently in New Delhi, also met various other central ministers like Ghulam Nabi Azad (Health) and K V Thomas (Mos, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) to apprise them of the special developmental support needs of the state and sought their cooperation. (UNI)