GEKU, May 30: “The state government will never work against the will of the people, and take up hydropower projects in the Siang basin only when people themselves feel the need for it,” said Chief Minister Pema Khandu in a public meeting here in Upper Siang district on Wednesday.
On allegations that the government was secretly moving ahead with the hydropower projects, the CM said, “It is in the capacity of none to take up such big projects without being caught or noticed.”
Allaying rumours of the state BJP being in alliance with the National People’s Party (NPP), the CM said the NPP “is an alliance member of the NEDA but has no alliance with the state BJP as it has no single MLA in the state.”
He said the state BJP will not enter into pre-poll alliance with any party, as it is confident of winning all the 60 seats.
On the education sector, the chief minister said the state has marginally improved its performance – from39% to 44.33% – in the Class 12 CBSE exams.
“Tawang, however, has seen better performance with the average pass percentage of 74%, and has consecutively performed better than the rest of Arunachal in the last two years,” he added.
The CM lamented that the state’s performance in the CBSE exams, especially in the Adi belt, is very poor,and urged the community to take measures to improve it.
Attributing such dismal performance to arbitrary upgrading of schools without the creation of posts of teachers, the CM said more than 1000 posts of teachers have been created by his government, “which will be filled up soon.”
Highlighting the performance of his government, Pema said, “There is growing perception among the people of the state, especially among the youth, that the present government is a performing one.
“‘In the last two years, work culture in the state has seen great improvement, and the increase in the state’s financial resources from mere Rs 900 crore to Rs 1600 crore within two years is testimony to this fact,” the CM said.
Lauding the government employees for their performance, Pema said the state government is aiming to generate Rs 2000 crore in the next financial year.
Informing that the state government is slowly moving towards decentralization by empowering the institution of the deputy commissioner (DC), Pema said district level societies for health, education, and agriculture and allied sectors will be formed under the DCs to take care of all the requirements of the districts.
“Earlier, all the needs of the districts were decided from Itanagar, which resulted in corruption, leading to a complete mismatch between the grassroots needs and fulfillment in addressing those needs,” the CM said.
He exhorted the DCs to play an active role in ensuring that the benefits of flagships programmes reach the beneficiaries. He urged them to transfer all the benefits through the DBT mode, and to maintain PFMS accounts.
The chief minister said the state government is taking steps to ensure successful implementation of the state budget, “and all the legislators, top government officers, and DCs will have important roles to play in their implementation.”
Responding to a public memorandum, the chief minister assured to sanction an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) here shortly.
Giving assurance that state cabinet would approve upgrading of Geku EAC headquarters to a sub-divisional HQ, Pema asked the Upper Siang DC to forward the matter to the government.
The CM assured to provide fund for constructing a 500 kw mini hydel over the Sikken river here. He also promised to release fund for a cultural centrehere, and asked the DC to recommend the proposal through SIDF.
To the demand for a two-lane Yingkiong-Geku-Komkar highway, the CM assured to take up the matter with the MoRTH or the DoNER.
State BJP president Tapir Gao, Health Minister Alo Libang, and local MLA Olom Panyang also spoke.
Earlier in the morning, the CM inaugurated a tourist lodge and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) here, whose foundation stone was laid by former CM late Dorjee Khandu in 2008. (CMO)
