Arunachal Pradesh CM Kalikho Pul seeks Rs 2,000 crore special package from Centre

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh today requested the Centre to give a one-time special package to bail out liabilities of Rs 2,000 crore inherited from the previous Congress government.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul urged Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today during a function organised to celebrate the National Panchayati Raj Day, to pursue the Centre for the special package to overcome the liabilities.

"Being a nascent state in terms of development, Arunachal Pradesh depends cent per cent on central funding," he said, pleading for early release of all remaining funds against various projects.

Pul said the Centre had already assured an additional Rs 380 crore for four-laning of Banderdewa-Hollongi NH-415, besides providing solar lights to 80,000 households in the state this year.

"Work on NH-415 will commence from September after evicting all illegal structures," he said.

Terming Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) as a bridge to development, Pul said since scheme formulation and implementation starts in the villages, PRIs play an important role.

"The state government has revived the ,PRIs provided more power and functions to them," he said.