PTI
ITANAGAR, JULY 13
The Assembly today referred the Arunachal Pradesh State Road (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015 to a committee to re-examine its clauses.
The ten-member committee headed by Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok was directed by Speaker Nabam Rebia to submit its report within three months.
The bill, tabled in the House on July 7 last by PWD Minister Gojen Gadi, was aimed at consolidating laws related to scientific planning and development of road network and connectivity, systematic regulation of road development by giving impetus to safe custody and maintenance of assets in the state for all round economic development and welfare of the people.
Rebia, while announcing the state government’s proposal of referring the bill to the committee for re-examining the clauses particularly, compensation payment and specification of Right of Way (RoW), while constructing highways, said the people were only interested on compensation rather than development and urged the members to find ways to educate the people.
All members cutting across party lines welcomed the bill and suggested for dropping the clause of compensation.
Taking party in the discussion, Leader of Opposition Tamiyo Taga (BJP) said there should be specification of categories of roads to be executed by various agencies.
Senior BJP leader Japu Deru, while citing an example of a project where compensation claim exceed Rs one lakh crore against sanctioned the amount of Rs 400 crore, said responsibility should be fixed on departmental officials to create awareness among the people.
Stating that compensation has prompted unwanted constructions, Congress member Phosum Khimhun suggested for providing it to the genuine persons.
Social Welfare minister Wanglin Lowangdong said roads, vital for the state from the security point of view, were limited till 1952.
“Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh gifted the Trans Arunachal Highway,” Lowangdong said adding, the bill should be specific for highways.
Stating that lack of good roads in the state deter outside investors, Independent MLA Paknga Bage said focus should be on district roads too and roads should be improved to boost agri-horti sector.
While Congress member Nikh Kamin suggested for distinct specification to all categories of road, Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mama Natung said state’s huge potentials were not known to outside world for want of good roads.
“People are interested in crores of compensation package which has turned into a disease. If this continues, the road projects will be limping in future,” Congress MLA Gabriel Denang Wangsu added.
The House was adjourned for the day after the Speaker announced the government’s proposal to constitute the committee.
