Yachuli
After 19 long years since its foundation stone was laid, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday inaugurated the much awaited Divisional Commissioner (West) headquarters at Yachuli. With this the first major initiative of the Khandu-led government turned into reality.
“This is a historic day. The wait of 19 years has borne fruit today. I congratulate not only the people of Yachuli but the entire people of 13 districts and 33 Assembly constituencies,” said Khandu in a public meeting after the inauguration.
Allaying confusions regarding establishment of the divisional headquarters at Yupia, Khandu said that the one-man committee headed by Urban Development &Housing and Land Management Minister Nabam Rebia had recommended Yachuli as the headquarters, Khandu congratulated Rebia too on his impartial decision. Incidentally, Rebia represents the constituency where Yupia is situated.
The Chief Minister said that his government is committed to decentralize administration and bring it to the doorsteps of the people. After making functional both the divisional commissioner headquarters – East and West, he said other divisional offices like that of PHED, PWD, etc would be shifted to their respective divisions.
Khandu lauded the people of Yachuli for donating land for the divisional commissioner’s office of 4 sq kms and requested for another 2 sq kms in the periphery for future expansion of the headquarters.
“Thinking and planning for the future, please donate more land so that the divisional headquarters can be expanded and the township can be developed into a smart city,” he said.
The Chief Minister while citing Yachuli area as a future economic hub, Khandu however regretted that the Hoj-Potin portion of the Trans-Arunachal highway is yet to see the light of day. He directed the Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner to sort out the matter of land compensation within this month and acquire the requisite land for early construction of the road.
“For compensation issues a project as important as the trans-Arunachal highway shouldn’t get stuck up. Please accept compensation at the rate fixed by the administration and let the project take off. If terminated, as hinted by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, it would be matter of shame for entire Arunachal. We cannot let this happen,” Khandu appealed.
The Chief Minister also urged the people to revisit their take on hydro power development in the state. He said Arunachal Pradesh can become self reliant only when it uses judiciously the abundant natural resources at its disposal like hydro-power.
“We cannot afford to remain a beggar state forever. We should aim to become a donor state and that can happen only when we judiciously harness our hydro potential,” he said.
Khandu assured to provide sufficient fund for construction of a permanent divisional commissioner office, DIGP office, quarters and other infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein also raised concern over the hiccups in starting works on the Hoj-Potin part of the trans-Arunachal Highway.
Informing of his meeting with MoRTH officials recently, Mein said that the Ministry is more than willing to help the state but the compensation issue is proving a big hurdle.
“On the 407 kms road, for a stretch of 157 kms (Potin to Gopi) land is yet to be acquired due to issue of land compensation sought by land owners. I have assured MoRTH that the issue will resolved soon and requested them not to terminate the project,” he said and appealed everyone to cooperate with the district administration to complete the land acquisition process smoothly and urgently so that it can be handed over to the Union Ministry for start of work.
Provisional Land Possessing Certificates for plots in Yachuli were handed over to all legislators of the 33 Assembly constituencies who fall within the jurisdiction of the West Divisional office. This plot will be utilized for construction of assets like guest houses for the respective constituencies.
The inauguration and public meeting was also attended by MoS Home Kiren Rijiju, Cabinet Minister Nabam Rebia, deputy speaker Tumke Bagra, legislators Mama Natung, Tapuk Taku, Dikto Yekar, Markio Tado, Takam Pario, Karya Bagang, Pani Taram, Jarkar Gamlin, Punji Mara and Tage Taki besides host and birthday boy Likha Saaya, Chief Secretary Satya Gopal, Divisional Commissioner West Gamli Padu, DGP, DIGP and others.
