Arunchal Pradesh wants road through Bhutan
State government of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh is likely to ask the Central government to initiate talks with the Bhutan government for construction of a road from West Bengal to the state through Bhutan.
State’s PWD Minister Chowna Mein informed the state Assembly on Monday that the proposed road from Alipurduar in West Bengal running along the foothills of Bhutan to Nechipu in West Kameng district of the state would lessen the burden in carrying construction materials for various power projects in the state.
The state government is proposing Bhutan route in an effort to overcome the blockade on roads by floodwater during summer season and protesting groups. Recently construction work of many power projects of the state, especially the 2000 mw Lower Subansiri hydro-electric project at Gerukamukh, had come to a halt for the past few months due to road blockade by various anti-dam groups in Assam.
Congress MLA Takar Marde requested the state government to take up the issue with the country’s Prime Minister and the External Affairs Ministry and ask the Centre to initiate talks with the Bhutan government for getting clearance to construct the road.
Mein, while appreciating Marde for raising the issue, said the road would also facilitate border trade with Bhutan.