Funds no constraint for Arunachal, says PC

On a visit to this remote town on the Sino-Indian border, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said funds would not be a constraint for development of Arunachal Pradesh, observing that the state shared a special place in the hearts of people of the country.

Chidambaram also said the Centre will always pay attention for the development of Arunachal at par with other developed states but advised the Dorjee Khandu government to take up need-based schemes as per people's choice.

"There will be no dearth of funds for this land-locked state. But there must be clarity in all projects and schemes to be implemented," Chidambaram said while addressing district officials in the Himalayan town of Tawang.

"Arunachal shares a special place in our hearts and we will always pay attention for its development at par with other developed states of the country," the home minister said.

Tawang is home to one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the region. Exhorting officials to properly monitor all projects in the state, the home minister stressed on maintaining accountability and transparency on funds spent.

Chidambaram, who arrived in Tawang accompanied by Minister of State for Planning V Narayanswamy in an Indian Air Force helicopter, inaugurated a ropeway connecting Tawang Monastery to Gyangong Ani Gonpa.

He also inaugurated the newly constructed District Collector's office. "With the inauguration of the ropeway and the DC office, a new era of development has started in this remote district bordering China," he said.

The ropeway was constructed by the state PWD at a total cost of Rs. 330.89 lakh. 90 per cent of the funds were sanctioned by DoNER ministry under the non-lapsable central pool.

The foundation stone of the ropeway was laid by former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in October 2002.

The ropeway is 1,184 meter long with a difference of 164 meter between upper and lower terminals. Having a capacity to carry 8 people, the ropeway will take 8 minutes to cover the distance.

Responding to a memorandum demanding grant of a Rs 150 crore package for developing the district and preservation of Bhoti language (spoken by Buddhist), Chidambaram promised to take up the matter with respective ministries.

He also said efforts would be made for preservation of Bhoti scripts in digitised form. Chidambaram at a public rally later urged the state government to stress on development activities and not to think of security.

"Focus on development and leave the security aspect to us," he said.