ITANAGAR, Aug 16: The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated with great vigour and gaiety throughout Arunachal Pradesh on 15 August.
Addressing the people of the state during the grand function at IG Park here, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the state government has terminated hydropower projects whose performance was very poor.
“We have decided to hand such hydropower projects to the PSUs as per mutual terms and conditions. Till date we have cancelled 15 hydropower projects (HEP) and 100 more hydroelectric projects are in the process of termination,” he said.
The chief minister informed that the Kameng HEP (600 mw) and the Pare HEP (110 mw) would be commissioned this year.
He said that under the Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gramin Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), 671 un-electrified villages have been electrified either on off-grid or on-grid mode while under the Saubhagya Scheme, the state would provide electrification to 44806 un-electrified households by 31 December. While 39376 would be on grid connections, 5430 would be off-grid, “making it 100 percent,” he said.
The chief minister asked the people of the state to make use of the UJALA Scheme under which LED bulbs, tube lights and energy efficient fans will be sold at subsidized rates.
“We request all citizens to take advantage of this scheme which would result in saving 10.20 mw of power, resulting in reduction of more than 33557 tonnes of CO2 emission,” the chief minister said.
He said the industrial sector has been neglected for long and now its time to focus on it, especially in the plain areas. He said Industrial Policy 2018 is being prepared to help attract private investors from outside the state to identified priority sectors through a mix of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
The chief minister said there has been an increase in the states’ revenue from its past collection.
“While it was just Rs 927.18 crore in 2015-16, an increase of only Rs 7.38 crore from 2014-15, we generated Rs 1253.57 crore in 2016-17, an increase of Rs 326.39 crore. In 2017-18 our income stood at Rs 1598.49 crore,” he said.
Stating that the government is aware of the increasing unemployment in the state, he said all-out efforts are being made to provide jobs to deserving youths.
“The government has decided to create three more districts – Pakke-Kessang, Lepa Rada and Shi-Yomi – this year,” Pema said.
Regarding road connectivity, he said the MoRTH, the BRO, the NHIDCL and the state PWD are implementing the total length of 2537 km national highway projects in the state.
“The state PWD has completed 10 national highway packages, covering 232 kms till date. The package from Pangin to Pasighat has made significant progress by achieving 96%. The status of other stretches of the NH executed by different agencies is in advanced stages of construction,” he said. He said that under the PMGSY programme, during the FY 2018-19, a target for 1400 km road length has been fixed by the GoI to connect 50 habitations.
“At present, 244 road works of 2111.28 km length are under various stages of construction. Altogether 1046 road works comprising 8885.33 km road length for an estimated cost of Rs 5946.82 crore has been sanctioned for providing connectivity to 1467 habitations. As on June 2018, 802 roads with 6765.00 km length have been completed, connecting 909 habitations,” he said.
The chief minister said that the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) will have its own full-fledged trauma centre and cancer centre, “which will bring relief to our people who used to travel all the way to Assam for tertiary care.”
Speaking on the Chief Minister’s Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY), Pema said the scheme has provision to provide financial coverage for a family upto Rs 5 lakhs per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. “We will expand the coverage of this scheme to empanel all the key hospitals across the country so that our patients get quality medical treatment at low expenses,” he said.
Speaking about the rising cancer incidences in the state, he said that under the CM’s Free Chemotherapy Scheme, free chemotherapy is being provided to APST cancer patients upto a ceiling of Rs 10 lakhs per patient, and the Renal Care Fund provides relief of up to Rs 10 lakhs per patient suffering from kidney transplant problems.
The chief minister urged the people to get their children immunized at the right age to eradicate diseases like TB, measles and rubella from the state.
He also spoke about the education sector, stating that the state government has decided to introduce state board examination for Class 5 and 8 from 2017-18 “to instill sense of responsibilities, accountabilities and quality in the system.”
He said the government has procured books directly from the NCERT and ensured that they reached to the remotest schools.
Outlining his 10-point agenda, Pema said he wishes to make Arunachal Pradesh “a centre for entrepreneurship, tourist and wellness destination of India; a state with best health facilities; schools with best facilities with 100 percent pass percentage; best connected state via roadways, highways and airways; energy self reliant, industry friendly, corruption-free and crime-free.”
At the Raj Bhavan, Governor BD Mishra hoisted the national flag, and extended his warm greetings to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and fellow citizens of India.
Celebrating the day with students and teachers from the Donyi Polo Mission School for Visually and Hearing Impaired and the government primary school, and other differently-able children, the governor called upon the people to build an inclusive society, “where the best interests of the people are served without any barrier of caste, creed, region, race, family and favouritism.”
At the civil secretariat, the day was celebrated with flag hoisting by Chief Secretary Satya Gopal in the presence of the officers and secretariat employees.
Gopal administered a pledge to the government employees, calling for full devotion and dedication to their duties.
He stressed on qualitative output in office management, and advised all to be work-centric and honest.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) celebrated the day at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan. APCC president Takam Sanjoy extended greetings to the people of the state. He recalled the contributions of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country.
He also spoke about the role of the Congress party during the freedom struggle.
Officers and staff of the legislative assembly secretariat also celebrated the day here, during which Deputy Speaker Tumke Bagra unfurled the national flag.
Rajiv Gandhi Government Polytechnic also celebrated Independence Day with much pride. The institute’s Principal, Dr AK Tripathy, hoisted the national flag. A large number of students and faculty members joined the celebration.
Members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Workers’ Union celebrated Independence Day at the union’s office in Itanagar. Students and faculty members of the Himalayan University also celebrated the day at the college’s campus in Jollang.
The Mission New India 2019 in collaborating with Arunachal Vivekanda Yuva Shakti organised a blood donation camp on the eve of Independence Day at RK Mission hospital here.
In Mahadevpur in Namsai district, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein informed that the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge is expected to be inaugurated within this year, and expressed hope that on its completion, there would be “a sea change in the life of the people living in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh.”
He informed that three villages under Namsai district – Old Mohong, Kaisu and Emphum – would be developed under the CM’s Adarsh Gram Yojana.
Mein said that notification to upgrade the Namsai CHC to district hospital has been issued and efforts are on to build necessary infrastructure and posting of required doctors. All the PHCs and sub-centres in the district are being upgraded to health and wellness centres within 31 March, 2019, he said.
“While construction work for the VKV in Namsai is in full progress, the government of India has also assured to provide one Kendriya Vidyalaya in the district. Two more colleges – Green Field Science College and Model Government College – are going to be established in Namsai district soon,” the DCM informed.
A fund of Rs 15.0 crore already sanctioned for construction of government quarters, and a fund of Rs 20 crore have been kept in this year’s budget for infrastructure development in each new district, he said.
Mein also informed that fund of Rs 15 crore each for infrastructure development of the Namsai and Yachuli divisional commissioners’ offices has been kept.
“Another sports stadium in Mahadevpur is being constructed under the ‘Khelo India’ initiative and the soil testing lab at the FTC in Kherem will also be functionalized soon,” he said.
Mein highlighted various current and upcoming welfare schemes of the state government, and gave away Olympic Day certificates to the students of the kickboxing club in Mahadevpur who represented India in the International Martial Arts Championship 2018 held from 12-13 May at Phuentshelling in Bhutan, besides commendation certificates to various achievers.
In Yupia, Environment & Forests Minister Nabam Rebia paid tributes to the leaders of the country.
Rebia also announced to provide financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to candidates of Papum Pare district who qualified the UPSC prelims, and Rs 50,000 for APPSCE candidates to encourage and support them in their preparations.
He requested the deputy commissioner to lease out the 12 rooms at the urban development & planning department’s shopping complex in Yupia at very nominal charges to local educated unemployed youths.
He also appealed to the district administration and the HoDs to give first preference to the villagers of Tigdo and Yupia who donated their land free of cost for establishing the district headquarters in Yupia, be it in jobs or any contract works in Yupia.
In Daporijo, MLA Dikto Yekar recalled the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters, and stressed on the need to uphold patriotism and love for the nation. He listed out various development activities made in education, sports, cultural, medical and many other social welfare activities.
In Yingkiong, Health Minister Alo Libang paid homage to the freedom fighters. He urged the HoDs to work hard and be sincere in their duties to make Upper Siang district stand at par with the other advanced districts.
Libang highlighted the programmes and policies of the state government, and also appealed to the public to eschew consumption of opium and discourage its cultivation.
Sixteen individuals were given certificates of commendation for achievement in various fields, besides prize distribution to winners of various competitions.
In Anini, MLA Rajesh Tacho assured to help those who cleared the state civil service exam (prelims) for preparation for further preparation of mains exams.
School students presented colourful culture performances, and games and sports events were held.
In Tawang, MLA Tsering Tashi recalled the sacrifices made by the martyrs, and urged the people to work together for the development of the nation.
Applauding the hard work of aspiring civil servants from the district who made it to the mains of the UPSC and the APPSCCE, the MLA announced monetary assistance of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakhs each to the APPSCCE and UPSC aspirants respectively.
He spoke of various initiatives taken up under the present government, and later gave away commendation certificates to individuals and organisations of the district for their contribution in various fields. District toppers in the AISSCE and the AISSE 2018 were also felicitated.
In Namsai, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya celebrated Independence Day with the principal highlighting the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters to make India what it is today. He urged the students and teachers to come forward and work hand in hand to make a better society and better India. Students gave colourful cultural presentations.
In Aalo, Tax & Excise Minister Jarkar Gamlin paid floral tributes to the martyrs, and spelt out various programme and policies initiated by the government to ameliorate the condition of the people.
He disclosed that the Trans-Arunachal Highway project would be taken up soon, and that Rs 1 crore under SIDF and Rs 15 crore under CRF have been earmarked for CC pavement and internal roads in Aalo. He announced that Rs 20 crore for improvement of water supply in the town has been worked out to take up essential development in the town.
To boost tourism in the district, Rs 1.5 crore for Adventure@Mechuka, Rs 1 crore for Yomgo River Festival and Rs 50 lakhs for River Festival have been already earmarked, he said.
In Palin, MLA Takam Pario highlighted major developmental activities in the constituency and various ongoing projects. He said the principal for the government model college in Langbia has been posted to oversee the developmental activities, and that the academic session would hopefully begin next year.
He also said that he would award Rs 50,000 each to the 18 candidates from the district who qualified in the recently held APPSCCE-2018 preliminaries.
Independence Day was also celebrated with great pomp and gaiety in other administrative circles of Kra Daadi district.
In Changlang, MLA Tesam Pongte paid homage to the freedom fighters and valiant soldiers. He informed that the mini-secretariat building (Block-A) under SPA in the DC office complex has been completed, while some work is left on the CC pavement road with drainage, Phase-I and II in Changlang township.
The new buildings for Rangfrah Government Degree College will also be completed by October, he said. He said the counters-cum-public paid toilets at the SBI point and near the PWD bridge in Nadipar under the MLA LAD Fund, and the urban forest-cum-recreational centre constructed under SIDF are completed and functional.
He assured that the cultural heritage centre in Simnongkong under SIDF would be completed by December.
In Sagalee, MLA Nabam Tuki unfurled the national flag at the general ground here on Wednesday.
He highlighted various projects of the state and central governments, and appealed to all heads of offices to be proactive in their duties for quick public delivery system.
He encouraged the recent propagation of a corruption-free state launched by the Arunachal Pradesh Catholic Association to discourage any kind of bribe during the forthcoming election.
In Ziro, the day was celebrated at Dani Kunya Government Higher Secondary School ground, where MLA Tage Taki informed that Ziro is poised to be declared a “smoke-free zone” with 95 percent beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana receiving free LPG connections.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), house construction for 430 homeless people has been sanctioned for Ziro, he said, adding that Rs 19 crore has already been sanctioned under the Integrated Power Development Scheme for improvement of power supply in urban areas of Ziro.
Construction of community fencing, water conservation project in Swkhe, construction of ITI in Monployang, developing Dree ground in Nago Putu as a heritage centre, tapping of drinking water from the Pange river, construction of nature interpretation centre in Pange, etc, were few other development activities he highlighted.
He also assured to provide laptops to all the successful candidates of UPSC and APPSCE preliminary examinations, 2018.
Commendation certificates were also awarded to various achievers and contributors of the district for their excellent service by the district administration.
In Kimin, Science & Technology Chairman Bamang Mangha informed about several schemes approved by the government for development of the area.
He also spoke on the need for cultural exchanges on all such important occasions to strengthen ties and help in maintaining peace and prosperity on either side of the Arunachal-Assam boundary.
In Pasighat, MLA Kaling Moyong highlighted the achievements of the government departments implemented so far and said all central and state flagship programmes must be implemented in spirit and letter.
The MLA handed over prizes and certificates to the achievers in various fields, and distributed DTH connections and radios to the gaon burahs from his own means.
In Ruksin, MLA Tatung Jamoh paid tributes to those who fought and made the supreme sacrifice to free the country from British Raj. He said the call of the hour was to evolve and develop specific integrated missions to take the country forward on the path of sustainable development.
In Raga, MLA Tamar Murtem paid homage to the freedom fighters and called for upholding the values of the great leaders.
A health awareness skit by ASHAs and other medical workers was showcased on the occasion. They demonstrated hand washing techniques and created awareness on maternal health. DMO in-charge Dr Kapu Sopin highlighted other health programmes under the District Health Society.
Colourful cultural programmes by school children and stalls by various NGOs and government departments were the other highlights of the day. (With inputs from CMO, Raj Bhavan and DIPROs)
