KOLORIANG,Nov 28: “Don’t allow developmental funds to disappear into thin air,” pleaded Chief Minister Pema Khandu addressing people of KurungKumey district.
On a two-day visit to one of the most interior districts Monday morning, Khandu became the first chief minister to reach Damin, a circle headquarter along the border with Tibet-China.
Expressing concern over migration of people from border villages like Damin, Khandu questioned who will monitor the developmental projects being implemented by the government if residents have already left the area.
“Times have changed. Today connectivity is reaching remote and border villages. Its time that people of these areas do not migrate and abandon the land of their forefathers. These must be developed and preserved for the future generation,” he said.
When informed by BRO officials, stationed in the remote district, that improvement in road connectivity in recent years has triggered a reverse migration, Khandu said it was a welcome trend.
Encouraging people to return from their temporary settlements in urban areas to their own land, Khandu said in the next few years connectivity scenario in the border areas of the state will witness drastic improvement.
“Very recently, the union ministry of Road, Transport & Highways has approved sanction for the 1500 kms Frontier Highway that would connect all the border areas of the state from East to West and inter connecting roads between the highways of about 1000 kms,” he informed.
Khandu said that with these projects completed, all the border districts will be well connected and advised people to future-plan accordingly as these districts have immense potential in sectors like tourism, horticulture and agriculture.
Landing first at Parsi Parlo this morning, Khandu inaugurated the newly constructed 20.06 Km PMGSY road from Parsi-Parlo to Yalluha and a steel truss built-up girder with composite RCC decking bridge over Rashik river, a part of the PMGSY road.
He visited the old Parsi-Parlo ADC office and directed the administration to locate a new site for construction of new office complex. He assured sufficient funds for construction of the mini-secretariat at Parsi-Parlo.
Responding to few requests, Khandu assured funds for construction of sports stadium and museum (for Neolithic artefacts found in the area) in phased manner.
Later, at Damin the Chief Minister laid the foundation for the Addl Deputy Commissioner Border Administrative Block, inaugurated a steel truss built up girder with composite RCC decking bridge over Kumey river under PMGSY, upgraded Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Govt Secondary School and a Govt Secondary School.
Khandu handed over the official notifications for creation of two new CD Blocks in the district – Polosang and Paniasang – to the district administration.
Reaching Koloriang, the district headquarters this evening, Khandu paid tributes to former Chief Minister and his late father, DorjeeKhandu at Koloriang Deputy Commissioner office complex. The bust was erected in honour of the late chief minister under whose initiative the office building was constructed, which also houses offices of allhead of the department of the district.
Khandu was accompanied by Home Minister Bamang Felix and received by local legislator and Advisor PHED LokamTassar besides PR leaders and government officials.