NEW DELHI, Jun 8: Arunachal Pradesh Governor BD Mishra on Friday impressed on officials of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) the necessity of having an alternative, all-weather road between Lumla in Tawang district and Guwahati in Assam.
MEA Joint Secretary (North) Sudhakar Dalela along with his deputy secretary had called on the governor at Arunachal House here to discuss the possibility of having road communication between Guwahati and Tawang through southern Bhutan.
The present road between Lumla and Guwahati gets blocked during the rainy season due to landslides, and in winter due to snowfall. Because of this, the governor told the MEA officials, the people of remote Tawang district face immense hardship, particularly during medical emergencies, while using the road.
Mishra said the proposed road through the south of Bhutan would be an all-weather one, and also shorter by 119 kms.
He urged the ministry to coordinate with the government of Bhutan in the matter, “so that the people of Tawang can avail of uninterrupted road communication facilities between Tawang and the plains of the country across the Brahmaputra river.”
The MEA officials assured the governor of their full cooperation in the proposed communication initiative.
Earlier, on Thursday, Mishra met Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS), Air Marshal SB Deo, and briefed the air marshal on his initiative to form the ‘Payback to the Society Arunachal Pradesh’ group of serving armed forces officers of the state.
The group of serving officers, including the lady officers from Arunachal Pradesh, who have on the request of the governor formed the group, will visit schools and colleges in the state to motivate the youths to excel in life and join the armed forces in the officer cadre, the governor said.
He requested the VCAS to spare these officers for a few days in a year, “so that they can visit Arunachal on their social mission to pay back to the society.”
Air Marshal Deo assured the governor that he would cooperate with the group, and said he would be happy to contribute in shaping the future of the youths of Arunachal Pradesh. (PRO, Raj Bhavan)
