Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh has urged the Union Finance ministry to give special stress on connectivity as well as development of hydro-power for rapid progress of the state. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki made the requests in the Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting convened by the Union Finance ministry recently in New Delhi, a communique from the CMO said here.
Tuki drew attention towards the under-construction 1556 KM Tans-Arunachal Highway and requested for adequate funds for timely completion of the crucial strategic road in the state.
He also sought funds to complete the Greenfield Airport in the state capital for which the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had been preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Highlighting poor telecommunication in the state, Tuki said, “since Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest tele-density in the country, a mission mode project for having 100 per cent mobile connectivity in the state may be taken up in this budget, which will have far reaching benefits.”
He also stressed on the importance of development of border areas, which he said, were tied in a vicious cycle of poverty, unemployment, under-development and remoteness.
Stating that special problems in remote border areas cannot be tackled in normal course, he proposed that special mechanisms might be looked into through special ‘Start Up Funds’ besides enhanced allocation for infrastructure for para-military forces, the communique said.
Drawing attention of the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the state’s resources in hydro-power and tourism, Tuki said hydropower potential of the state could cater to 40 per cent of the energy demand of the nation, if harnessed sustainably.
The chief minister further placed the problem of lack of access to international loans because of several factors and it had been assured that Arunachal would not be allowed to suffer on this account by providing enhanced domestic funding, which had not happened till date.
He suggested that to compensate this deprivation, another window of funding might be considered in this budget for infrastructure development in the state.
Tuki also pointed that the state was being deprived of accelerated economical activities due to the large forest cover of 82 per cent, which is the highest in the country.
Stating that as these forests play a major role in carbon sink and help mitigate global warming, Tuki said that Arunachal forests absorb about 1,470 million tonnes of carbon dioxide which when monetised amounts to Rs 88,200 crore. (PTI)
