GOVERNOR’S SECRETARIAT
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
ITANAGAR

No.GS/O-180/A/2000 Dated 13th Aug, 2008

PRESS RELEASE

Itanagar Aug 13: The Majhis at Sonarighat in Dhemaji district of Assam would not have imagined in their wildest dream that at one fine morning they will have a person holding a high constitutional post on board in their ferry. On Monday morning the ghat was buzzing with routine chores with passengers boarding the ferries to cross the mighty Brahmaputra, which is overflowing because of incessant rains in Arunachal Pradesh. Exactly at 11.00 am the entourage of His Excellency the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Gen J J Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) accompanied by the first lady Mrs Anupama Singh reached on the ghat, breaking the routine monotony of the area. In less than ten minutes time, the former Army Chief was on board to across the Brahmaputra. Before anybody could imagine when was the last occasion such VVIP holding a gubernatorial post has crossed the river like a common citizen, the Governor took the charge of the steering and started navigating through Brahmaputra. For the former Army Chief it must have been easier to navigate through the waters of Brahmaputra as compared to many of the difficult situations which he must have experienced during his 43 years of service to the Nation as a soldier!

                   The Arunachal Governor was on his two days tour to eastern Arunachal Pradesh and preferred to cross the Brahmaputra on ferry instead of taking helicopter to Dibrugarh. It was really not a new experience for him, as he alongwith his family had crossed the roaring Digaru and Lohit Rivers on ferry and elephant back many times when he was posted in Tezu as a Colonel. The Governor was scheduled to visit to Pangsau Pass on  Indo-Myanmar border, which however he could not do due to inclement weather.

                   However, at Dibrugarh he had a detailed discussion with the various tea planters about potential of Arunachal Pradesh in tea plantation and proposed that the established tea growers of Assam should help Arunachal to explore its potential. He also strongly advocated that instead of going for the routine tea, Arunachal should be made as a destination for the organic tea. He also had a threadbare discussion with some of the tour operators about promoting eco-tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.

                   The Governor also visited Digboi refinery in Tinsukia district and had a detailed discussion about the potential as well as scientific, sustainable and eco-friendly methods of exploring these rich minerals in Arunachal Pradesh. At the end of the tour the Governor expressed that the projects of gauge conversion of Rangia to Murkongselek railway line and rail cum Road Bridge at Bogibeel should be expedited, for which he would personally meet the Railway Minister in the near future.                                                    

Sd/-
(P.S. Lokhande )IAS
Secretary to Governor