Itanagar: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Verappa Moily today said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre is committed to develop Arunachal Pradesh at par with other states of the country.
"Arunachal is the crown of India and a source of national spirit and energy for the country," Moily said while attending the 'Vikas Rally' at the Indira Gandhi Park here organised on the occasion of completion of two years of the Nabam Tuki government.
Admitting that the state has great potential for development, he said, "When Arunachal smiles the entire nation smiles and when it prospers, the entire country prospers."
Lauding the people for their patriotic nature in zealously guarding the country's frontier, Moily said, the Centre is with the state government in its development endeavour.
"Though Arunachal is geographically far from New Delhi, it is near to our heart. The commitment of the UPA government for the state's development has been proved beyond doubt and the Rs 37000 crore Prime Minister's mega development
project for the state is a glaring example to name a few," he said.
"UPA's commitment for development of Arunachal is not a promise, but a determination on the part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and youth leader Rahul Gandhi," he said and assured all help to transform the state in to Switzerland of the country.
The Union minister also laid the foundation stones of a Nursing college here and a gas-based power plant at Changlang district.
"The nursing college will be sponsored by ONGC, Oil India Limited and Bharat Petroleum, while the Rs 78 crore Gumcha gas power plant will be a joint venture of the Oil India Limited and the state government," he said, while assuring of ambulances to the state through various petroleum companies.
"My ministry is planning to invest Rs 400 crore in Arunachal's oil sector," he said.
Appreciating Chief Minister Nabam Tuki for his development initiative in the state, Moily said he (Tuki) wants to see smile in all strata of the society and his motto was to transform the youth of the state to enlightened citizens of the country.
"Youths of the state have leadership qualities and the UPA is committed to develop them into world class leaders," he added.
The union minister also distributed laptops and cash awards to 105 meritorious students under the Chief Minister's Talent Search Award and distributed tools and equipments to progressive farmers. He and Tuki flagged-off 16 tourist cabs provided to unemployed youth for tourism promotion the under Chief Minister's Paryatan Vikash Yojna.
