Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Governor (Retd) Gen J J Singh has declared open the first edition of Tawang Festival at this Buddhist Monastery town yesterday with the chant of religious hymns.
Congratulating the people of Tawang, the Governor wished that the five-day tourism festival will take Tawang a notch higher in the tourism map of the world.
He expressed happiness that Tawang has become the face of Arunachal Pradesh in the last couple of years and appreciated the natives for it, official sources said here today.
The Governor was, however, skeptical about the condition of roads that lead to Tawang. He urged the BRO authorities to take the matter seriously.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki along with hundreds, including Tourism Minister Pema Khandu, Water Resource Development Minister Newlai Tingkhatra, Urban Development and Town Planning Minister, Rajesh Tacho and other dignitaries were present during the function.
In his address, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who is also the Chief Patron of the festival, paid tributes to former Chief Minister, Late Dorjee Khandu.
He said because of Late Khandu’s personal intervention Tawang today is on the world tourism map.
Expressing his gratitude to the former CM, Mr Tuki assured the people that Late Khandu’s dream of a developed Arunachal will not be left aloof, sources said. ‘My government will leave no stone unturned to fulfill the dreams of the great visionary,’ he said.
Highlighting several initiatives of the government for welfare of the people, Mr Tuki informed that top priority is being given to promote, preserve and document the rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh through a new scheme called ‘Living Heritage’ and encourage local artists, artisans and exponents of traditional art forms. Tuki, who had in the morning visited the land-slide site of the Tawang Monastery, said the government will do everything possible to save the age-old monastery which is the center of Buddhist teachings for the region.
‘I have constituted a high level committee under principal secretary Yeshi Tsering that will submit a technical report for consideration by the government. We will have to save the Monastery from the danger of landslides,’ he said.
As pointed by the Governor, the chief minister also expressed concern over the condition of roads. In fact, he had traveled by road from Dirang to Tawang to get a firsthand experience of the problem.
Tuki said it was a genuine concern and assured the people that he will take up the matter on an urgent note with the Border Road Organization. He even called a meeting today of the authorities to discuss the issue in presence of the Governor, sources added. (UNI)