Khandu urges people not to demand high compensation for

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday asked the people to cooperate with the government in the development process and urged them not to claim exorbitant compensation for land acquired for important projects.

Addressing a public meeting at Kodak Village in Upper Subansiri district, Khandu said that due to various compensation issues, many important road projects in the district are pending.

Smooth connectivity to Itanagar and construction of road from Taliha to Tato are being delayed due to compensation issues, he pointed out.

The chief minister said that the people of western Arunachal should learn from eastern Arunachal where development is the priority and not seeking compensation.

He said that the apex bodies of the communities in eastern Arunachal have been very effective in solving compensation issues.

The body also convinced people that they should not hamper the development process by demanding compensation.

Similarly, the apex bodies of communities in western Arunachal could play effective roles in expediting the development process. The chief minister said the state government always looks upon the apex bodies for their assistance, an official communique informed. "Arunachal Pradesh has huge potential in the sectors of hydro, agriculture, mines and minerals but could not be utilized to its full potential because of our own weakness to overcome shortcomings in policy decisions, bureaucracy and in exerting political will, he said. He also urged the people to cooperate with the local MLAs and government officers in realizing the states full potential. Responding to public demand, the chief minister assured a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School for Upper Subansiri district. He also assured that the state government would take up the matter relating to expediting works on Tato-Taliha road by BRO.

Khandu informed that an all-party meeting would be called soon to decide whether the upcoming panchayat elections would be fought on a non-party basis and added that the decision would be taken as per the outcome of the meeting. Khandu was accompanied by Union Minister of State (Independent) for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju, state Tourism Minister Nakap Nalo and MLAs including Nyato Rigia (Taliha), Rode Bui (Dumporijo) and Tanya Soki (Daporijo), the communique added.