Addressing the 65th Plenary of North Eastern Council at Shillong on May 27, chaired by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa emphaised on connectivity, communication facilities, environment, defence & border area development, tourism, exploration of minerals, education, health, Human Resource and Skill Development.He added that for improving road connectivity within the state along international Border areas, there is a need for a Frontier Highway connecting all the important centres along the China-India border.The Governor pointed that from the Strategic and defence point of view, it is felt that special Road Development Schemes may be conceived and implemented by the Govt. of India connecting all the identified centres with the Trans-Arunachal Highway and the proposed Frontier Highway.
He also requested the Prime Minister 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-Arunachal border.The Governor stressed that in addition to the proposed Greenfield Airport, the State requires at least 3-4 more Airports, while informing that a request has already been made to the Civil Aviation Ministry to select the sites in consultation with the State Government.The Governor said that apart from a Greenfield airport at Itanagar, which is under an active consideration of Ministry of Civil Aviation, the State needs urgent upgradation of 26 helipads of State Government in order to meet the standards of DGCA & BCAS, 30 New helipads need to be constructed to provide air connectivity to the border villages having international borders.
The Governor called to revive the use of waterways- National Waterway 2 running along the Brahmaputra. Water connectivity with Arunachal Pradesh using the Brahmaputra has been practically non-existent, he added.
The Governor said that the Internet and mobile connectivity in State Capital Itanagar in particular and the whole State in general is very erratic and unsatisfactory. All India Radio covers only 57% of the area. Doordarshan covers 20% area of the State with 56% population coverage through terrestrial transmission. There is void in the entire border belt, he added while calling for an immediate focus and enhancing their reach even beyond border.Stating that Government is committed to materialize the dream of making Arunachal Pradesh the Power House of India, the Governor requested NEC and Ministry of DoNER to help the State to identify and implement run of the river off grid projects so as to power the remote administrative headquarters. He also requested for intervention of the Prime Minister to resolve the impasse on 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Project by addressing the unresolved issues raised by NGOs in Assam, in an amicable manner.
The Governor called for redefining the Hydel Projects into small, medium and large categories by fixing appropriate generating capacity for each category. He opined that redefining will allay the general apprehension of the people about Mega Dam Project as any project with installed capacity of above 25 MW is now considered as a large project.On environment, for enabling the State government to implement compensatory aforestation and other programmes related to wild life and bio diversity conservation, the Governor requested for transfer the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fund to the State. The Governor also request for setting up three battalions of Ecological Task Territorial Army for protecting 68,000 Sq km forests and wild life.
Expressing his concern on the issue of lager scale migration from the remote border areas to the urban areas down south, which is a major national security concern, the Governor proposed that the Ministry of Defence should consider setting up Military cantonments in the remote areas near the Sino-Indian border to seed urbanization in the area.The Governor also requested for relaxation in height and chest norms for youths of Arunachal for recruitment in the Army, as done in State Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), so as to enable the youth to join the Armed Forces in good number.To harness the abundant mineral potential of the State, the Governor requested the GOI to constitute one Expert group to assist in preparing a Master Plan for exploration of minerals.
The Governor said that the State needs continued assistance and support of the Government of India and the NEC.
Source & Credit:http://www.arunachaltimes.in/governor-emphasizes-on-connectivity-defence-border-area/
Image Credit: http://www.newsx.com/national/16606-punjab-border-area-on-alert-after-police-officers-abduction
Forwarded By: Jainender Nigam,news.prasarbharati@gmail.com