PM hits out at previous govts for neglecting NE
ITANAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Arunachal Pradesh’s first greenfield airport at Hollongi near Itanagar and dedicated the 600 MW Kameng hydro power station to the nation.
The PM also said that the region was neglected for decades, stalling the development of the states.
The airport located at Hollongi, around 15 km from state capital Itanagar, will link the border state to other Indian cities with commercial flights as well as other parts of Arunachal Pradesh through helicopter services.
Modi asked political commentators to stop seeing everything through the prism of politics.
The airport’s foundation stone was laid by Modi in February 2019.
“Political commentators had claimed (in 2019) that the laying of the foundation stone for the airport was an election gimmick. But today when there are no elections due, we are launching this airport. This airport is a slap on their face,” the prime minister said in his address.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to develop all border villages under the Vibrant Border Village Programme
which will give a boost to tourism and reduce migration in the region.
Earlier, hamlets in border areas were considered the “last village” but now they are considered the “first village” he said.
For long, Northeast was neglected while today, the region gets top priority when it comes to development, be it tourism or trade, telecom or textiles, he said.
Seven airports were built in the Northeast in the last eight