Arunachal's first municipalities get Rs 5.50 crore

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today said a budgetary provision of Rs 5.50 crore has been made for the state's first municipalities, Itanagar and Pasighat, to carry out various activities.
"The budget would cover various components under salary, maintenance, office establishment and vehicles," Tuki said after inaugurating the office of Itanagar Municipality, the state's first urban civic body, near here.
A multi-purpose cultural hall at Naharlagun has been remodelled to house the Itanagar municipal council.
Asking the councillors to work for making the state capital a crime free city, Tuki said the state cabinet on August 8 had approved devolution of powers in a phased manner to the municipal bodies of Itanagar and Pasighat.

The ruling Congress has won the Itanagar and Pasighat municipality polls on May 16. Though Itanagar municipality building has been opened today, functioning is yet to start at Pasighat because of lack of a proper office building.
"The state government has also decided to appoint an expert committee to study and examine the devolution of powers to municipal councils," Tuki said.

Stating that the state earned accolades for highest percentage of revenue collection in the country, the chief minister asked the councillors to educate people towards tax payment for better revenue generation.
With time and development, more urban areas in the state would be brought under municipalities, he said.

Tuki also directed the department of town planning to look for land to set up permanent office of the municipal council and assured to allot Rs 5 crore from the special plan assistance (SPA) in the next financial year for the purpose.