Central team in Arunachal to decide on Patkai

Itanagar: A high-level central team, led by Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) joint secretary Shambu Singh, visited Changlang district on Thursday to discuss the proposal for the creation of Patkai Autonomous Council (PAC).
Singh was accompanied by Union tribal affairs ministry director S N Sahai, DoNER ministry director Uma Kant and MHA's deputy secretary S Saha, official sources said here on Friday.
The state government had proposed the creation of Mon Autonomous Council (MAC), comprising West Kameng and Tawang districts, and PAC, comprising Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Singh, while not dismissing the proposal for autonomous district councils, suggested that other development works like planning and sanctioning district-specific funds, implementing district-based projects and addressing basic areas like health, education, road communication and infrastructure development could be adopted. He assured his full support if these alternatives were taken up.
Singh cautioned that while establishing autonomous district councils may help solve certain problems, ADCs in some regions had failed on all fronts. He urged the people to be honest and clear about their needs.
Responding to questions on poor infrastructure, relaxation of the height criteria in recruitment processes and rehabilitation package for youths, Singh promised to have the issues dealt with at the earliest. He further added that Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts would be included in the state's tourist circuit.