Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein is pushing for urban development funding tailored to the Northeast. Standard population-based metrics ignore the region's scattered settlements and high construction costs. Mein voiced his concerns at a workshop in Itanagar's Golden Jubilee Banquet Hall on Wednesday.
Representatives from six states gathered to discuss the 16th Finance Commission grants. The group included delegates from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura. These states face constant threats from landslides, earthquakes, and flash floods. High transport costs also bite into budgets.
The 16th Finance Commission covers 2026-27 to 2030-31. Officials expect to distribute 7.91 lakh crore to local bodies, with 3.56 lakh crore specifically for Urban Local Bodies. Mein told the attendees, "The success of the 16th Finance Commission would depend not merely on the funds allocated or released, but on the quality of infrastructure created, the strength of municipal institutions, the sustainability of civic services and improvements in citizens' quality of life."
Arunachal Pradesh alone manages 47 notified towns across 83,743 square kilometres. Maintenance remains expensive. Municipalities must evolve from simple implementing agencies into professional institutions. Mein wants better audits and stricter financial controls. He also demands improved property tax collection and smarter user charges.
Priority projects include solid waste management, drinking water, and climate-resilient roads. The state faces a shortage of qualified engineers and technical staff. Mein urged states to draft five-year plans that align with existing schemes like the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and AMRUT. He asked the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for ongoing technical handholding to help smaller municipalities get their start.
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