Focusing on modalities to generate own resources: Arunachal CM

Itanagar, Mar 5 () Arunachal Pradesh Chief MinisterPema Khandu on Thursday said the focus of his government is towork out the modalities to generate its own resources andreduce dependency on the Centre.

Taking part in budget discussion in the assembly,Khandu said the state earned over Rs 2,000 crore from varioussources in the current fiscal from just Rs 900 crore in 2016-17.

"Arunachal Pradesh generated an amount of Rs 2,115crore during 2019-20, which might rise further by March 31,"he said.

The CM, however, said resource-generating departmentslike geology & mining and hydropower need more attention.

"Many of the 100-odd MoUs signed with power developershave been terminated for not complying with the agreement andmany more will be terminated," he said.

He said public sector undertakings would be preferredto private power developers in the state.

The chief minister added that for important projects,the existing land reforms need to be regularised.

"A system will be put in place soon to regularise landreforms to attract outside investors," Khandu said.

Responding to another question, Khandu said by 2024,the state government will be able to bring down unemployment.

Terming "bandh culture" as a stumbling block indevelopment, he said protesters can, instead, resort to otherdemocratic means to press for their demands at designatedplaces.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, replying to queriesin the assembly, said that due to reduction in GST rates on278 items from average 28 per cent to 5 per cent, there hasbeen a shortfall in the central tax share to the state.

He an amount of Rs 807 crore has been recveived fromthe Centre as a one-time grant.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday inked aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIM Calcutta InnovationPark (IIMCCIP) for promotion of investment in start-upsthrough incubation and related programmes in the state, anofficial release said. UPLRBT RBT