Arunachal Pradesh home and rural development minister Bamang Felix on Wednesday called for a holistic approach to bring about all-round development in the Kurung Kumey and Kra Daadi districts.

The minister was speaking at a meeting convened to review the progress of construction work on the Joram-Koloriang Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) at Palin, the headquarters of Kra Daadi district.

Felix said it is because of awful road conditions that development progress has been severely affected in the Kurung Kumey district while a few parts of the Kra Daadi district look like they have been under total lockdown for a long period of time due to lack of proper roads.

“We are here to work for the welfare of the people and development of the state, so instead of playing the blame game, it is time that we unite and support the contractors and the executing agency for early completion of the important roads,” Felix said.

The minister assured all possible support from his end in the completion of the roads.

The minister further called upon the executing agency and contractors to properly utilize the dry months of December till March to complete the construction work.

He, however, cautioned that any lacuna in the construction process would be strictly dealt with.

Felix said that the road construction work has been awarded to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and the corporation has been asked to submit details of the progress of work every 15 days.

In regards to land compensation issues, the home minister said a meeting has been scheduled in the first week of November with the chief secretary and the district administration concerned.

NHIDCL executive director Col Sunil Kumar said through the work on the entire stretch of Joram to Koloriang TAH started in 2017; however, the same could not gain much momentum due to various reasons.

“Except for Packages I and II the work on the Joram to Koloriang road could not be done smoothly nor is it up to the mark. We are, however, taking the construction process seriously for which a proper work and action plan is being prepared,” Kumar said.

Col Prabhakar Kumar, the cooperation’s general manager said the Joram to Koloriang road is vital for defence purposes as well and the contractors have accordingly been given specific instructions to comply with the required work quality and its completion timeframe.

He further said a secretary-level officer from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is monitoring the progress of the work.

Kumar said the NHIDCL has also submitted a new feasibility assessment report to the state government asking it to monitor unlawful activities if any.

The status of the road construction work from Lower Subansiri to Kurung Kumey district was also presented by the NHIDCL officers during the meeting.

Among others, Tali legislator Jikke Tako and his Palin counterpart Balo Raja, Sports Authority of Arunachal chairman Byabang Taj, Kurung Kumey deputy commissioner Kento Riba, Kra Daadi deputy commissioner Solung Miji and several other officers of the two districts were present in the meeting.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]