Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) May 20 (ANI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has sought further support from the European Union (EU) to facilitate fund flow from the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which are already funding all other north east Indian states, but not Arunachal Pradesh.
Interacting with an EU delegation led by its Ambassador Joao Cravinho here, Tuki said: “Arunachal is a virgin land, with 82 percent forest cover, and my government has adopted a priority policy to convert Jhum Land under unsustainable maize and paddy cultivation to productive green land by promoting horti-agri and allied cultivation like tea and rubber during 12th Five Year Plan to increase the forest cover to 90 percent. I will call on the Central Government soon to seek compensation for protecting and conserving the rich biodiversity since the Supreme Court banned forest activities in 1996.”
Highlighting the huge potential of Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Tuki said that though his government had submitted proposals as desired by Central Government, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, these had been rejected due to objections raised by China.
He said that Arunachal Pradesh had an annual budget of around Rs 3,000 crore, but was still hugely dependent on New Delhi for funding from external agencies.
Dwelling on the hydropower potential of the state, Tuki informed the EU delegation that the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project, the 600 MW Kameng project and the 110 Pare project would be commissioned within the next two to three years to improve the power scenario.
Responding to a question from Ambassador Cravinho, Tuki informed that the proposed 1,554 Trans-Arunachal Highway, Tasigaon-Bhutan Road, the historic Stillwell Road were close to completion, while the airports at Pasighat, Tzu and Ziro were under renovation and would improve communication.
“We have sought a direct fixed wing air service with Kolkata from these airports,” he disclosed.
Poland’s Ambassador to India Pitor Klodkowski said that he was highly impressed by the first hand experience of the rich cultural mosaic of Arunachal and its inspiring natural beauty, and added that this would lay a strong foundation between the state and 34 other nations, including 27 European nations.
Endorsing Tuki’s views that the maiden visit of eight European diplomats was historic, Ambassador Klodkowski said support should be gathered to win over China in not opposing the flow from of development funds from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
“All us were taken in by your rich traditions and culture. Our hearts are filled with whatever we saw and heard. Hopefully, this will lay a strong foundation and we all will try to achieve it,” he told Tuki in front of a gathering. Ambassador Cravinho had earlier said: “The hospitality is very touching during this trip aimed at identifying potentials to strengthen our ties with India. This is the second visit after the visit of four diplomats to Assam and Meghalaya last year led by Czechoslovakia Ambassador Miloslav Staesk.”
He added: “This was a tremendous learning experience that has opened our eyes to tap Arunachal’s potential, particularly by the EU members, inhabited by people speaking 23 languages with diversity like this state.”
He also lauded the power point presentation on state’s investment potential by Planning Secretary Ankur Garg.
The ambassadors, including Borislav Kostov (Bulgaria), Janos Terenyi (Hungary), Terhi Hakala (Finland),
Marian Tomasik (Slovakia) and German charge-d-affairs Cord Meier-Klodt interacted with the chief minister in presence of Education Minister Bosiram Siram, Power (Electrical) Minister Tanga Byaling, Industries Minister Tapang Taloh, Parliamentary Secretaries T N Thongdok and Nabam Rebia, Principal Secretary Yeshi Tsering and special secretary and PPP director Sonam Chombey at the CM’s conference hall here.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/arunachal-cm-asks-eu-team-to-persuade-wb-adb-to-increase-fund-flow-for-ap/
