Page 46 - NIS English, December 16-31,2022

Nation Rise of the Northeast

hydropower station at Kameng was also dedicated
to the nation. The name of this airport reflects the
traditions and rich cultural heritage of Arunachal
Pradesh and its age-old indigenous reverence for
the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo). Be it tourism
or trade, telecom or textiles, the North East has been
accorded top priority. Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi inaugurated the Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar
on 19 November and also dedicated the 600 MW
Kameng Hydro Power Station to the nation. The
foundation stone of this airport was laid by the
Prime Minister himself in February 2019.
Despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic,
the work of this airport has been completed in a
very short time. Both the projects dedicated to
Arunachal Pradesh are unique examples of the
changing work culture, where Prime Minister
Narendra Modi himself has been setting the
tradition of dedicating the various projects to the
nation on time. The Prime Minister said that even In an initiative to make India
after independence, the North Eastern region had AatmaNirbhar in the energy sector, the
to face apathy and neglect for a long period. He Central Government has constructed a
said that it was the government of Atal Bihari 600 MW hydroelectric project in the West
Vajpayee which had formed a separate ministry Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
for the Northeast, focusing on this region. Later Developed at a cost of over Rs 8,450 crore
the pace of development stopped but after 2014 and spread over an area of over 80 kms
a new chapter of development started. Earlier, in the West Kameng district of Arunachal
remote border villages were considered the last Pradesh, the project will make Arunachal
villages, but now there is a change in attitude they Pradesh a power surplus state, thereby
are considered the first villages of the country. As benefiting the national grid in terms of
a result, the development of the North East has grid stability and integration.
become the priority of the government.
Be it tourism or trade, telecom, or textiles, the The agreement for this project was
Northeast gets top priority. The Prime Minister done in 1999, but it has progressed
also said that be it technology or agriculture, air fastly in 2014 after the present central
travel, airport connectivity, or port connectivity, the government came to power. Prime
government has prioritized the development of the Minister Modi laid special emphasis on
North East. The Prime Minister cited examples of this.
the country's longest bridge, longest rail bridge, Has made a significant contribution to
rail line connectivity, and record construction
of highways to highlight the development work the power sector of North East India
done in this area. The Prime Minister said that and has generated 6200 million units of
this is a new era of expectations and aspirations electricity so far. Apart from supplying
and today's event is a perfect example of the new 12 percent power to the state, the station
vision of India. is all set to supply power to Assam,
Meghalaya, Nagaland, and other parts of
NORTHEAST GETTING A NEW IDENTITY the country like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Donyi Polo Airport will be the fourth operational and Delhi.

44 New India Samachar December 16-31, 2022