Arunachal Delegation Seeks Krishna’s Help

By Ravish Tiwari

New Delhi, Oct 13 : Elected representatives from Arunachal Pradesh have intensified their protest against Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s stand against hydro-electric projects in the state.

A three-member delegation comprising a Member of Parliament and two MLAs on Tuesday met External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to counter Jairam’s position and sought his support to push for development works in the state in the “national interest.”

“We strongly protested Jairam Ramesh’s stand against hydroelectric projects in Arunachal. It is very unfortunate that while on the one hand our external neighbour is objecting to projects in the state, on the other hand, a minister in the government is championing the cause of a small section from the neighbouring state to halt projects in our state, Congress MP Takam Sanjoy, who led the delegation, told The Indian Express after meeting Krishna.

Last week, The Indian Express had reported how Jairam Ramesh, in a letter to the Prime Minister, questioned development works in the strategically-located state and demanded a comprehensive review of all hydel projects there. He also sought a “moratorium on any further clearances for hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh” since “these are bound to be the subject of agitation” in Assam.

“We sought the external affairs minister’s support. We highlighted this peculiar situation faced by our state and sought his support for speedy development,” Sanjoy said.

Sanjoy was accompanied by two other state MLAs, Padi Richo and Nido Pavitra.

“The Union Minister for Environment and Forest has never heard from the people and Government of Arunachal Pradesh and he has never come to the state for this purpose. Rather he heard a few NGOs in Guwahati and rushed with an one-sided opinion and report to the Prime Minister,” Sanjoy said.

The delegation also sought Krishna’s support to speed up construction of a greenfield airport at Tawang district in Arunachal.

“We requested Krishnaji to not impose the 70-km distance norm from the border for the construction of a greenfield airport in Tawang. We highlighted the case of the Agartala airport, which is adjacent to the Bangladesh border,” Sanjoy said.

Sanjoy said even Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu had recently met Defence Minister A K Antony to push for the Tawang Airport.

The delegation also sought a clampdown on IPhone4, which has created confusion regarding the political status of Arunachal Pradesh in its features.