Pranab Mukherjee assures Nabam Tuki to consider special package for Arunachal Pradesh

ITANAGAR: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has assured Arunachal Pradesh to consider a special package as an alternative source of fund to execute projects that have remained pending after objection by China to Asian Development Bank's (ADB) loan to the state in 2009.

The Finance minister's assurance came when state Chief Minister Nabam Tuki called on him at New Delhi yesterday, official sources informed today.

China had objected to ADB's USD 60 million funding to the state.

Tuki during the meeting reminded Mukherjee about the Centre's assurance given to former chief minister Dorjee Khandu that fund would never be a problem for the state's development before seeking a special package.

Tuki pleaded with the Union Finance minister to consider the impending proposals of infrastructure requirements of capital city Itanagar amounting to Rs 1,213.53 crore under urban sector and integrated river and flood management for Rs 396 crore, which were to be funded by ADB.

"The low credit deposit ratio is a matter of concern for the state. It has been reported that some of the banks are not even lending to self help groups (SHGs) which is evident by the large gap between the numbers of SHG savings linked and credit linked," Tuki said while drawing Mukherjee's attention, sources informed.