ITANAGAR, Oct 26 � Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has said that there would be motorable road in every village of the landlocked State of Arunachal Pradesh by the end of 2019.
Arunachal Pradesh will be the only State, as of now, to reap this benefit initiated by the Union Home Ministry, said Rijiju while addressing a public function at Pakke-Kessang in East Kameng district of Arunachal on Friday.
�Every village in Arunachal Pradesh, even if it has only two houses, will get a motorable road before 2019. This is my commitment to the people of Arunachal. If I fail to fulfil my commitment I do not think I will be able to face the people,� a confident Rijiju stated.
�The Centre has identified Arunachal Pradesh as a sensitive border State; therefore one-time relaxation was taken into account, sidelining the usual population criterion norm, for this ambitious work,� he said, adding that if the present norm of population criteria is followed then the border villages in the State would remain unconnected.
He also divulged that villages along the Sino-Indian border that are bereft of the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) facilities would be given rice free of cost.
To start with, Rijiju said, 41 blocks stretching across the border have been identified for the purpose. �The services of Central as well as State forces will be utilised to transport the rations,� he informed.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organisation demanding installation of a para-military post on Assam-Arunachal boundary near Seijosa, the Union Minister acknowledged the difficulties being faced by the Arunachalees living near the boundary that witnesses constant activities of underground elements, and assured all possible help from his Ministry.
