Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Wednesday called for region-specific urban development plans in the northeast, arguing that population and geographical area were inadequate criteria for assessing the cost of civic services in a region marked by difficult terrain, scattered settlements and frequent natural disasters.
The dispersed settlements and difficult terrain made the creation and maintenance of urban infrastructure particularly challenging, he pointed out. The 16th Finance Commission had recommended around ₹ 7.91 lakh crore in grants for rural and urban local bodies during 2026-27 to 2030-31, including approximately ₹ 3.56 lakh crore for urban local bodies, Mein said. Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s urban development challenges, the deputy chief minister said the state had 47 notified towns, including 27 Census Towns, spread across 83,743 sq km.
Mein said municipalities should be transformed from mere implementing agencies into professionally managed institutions capable of planning, financing and maintaining their own development priorities.
Mein said the success of the 16th Finance Commission would not be measured merely by the funds allocated or released, but by the quality of infrastructure created, the strength of municipal institutions and improvements in the quality of life of citizens. Mein reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening municipal bodies, improving sanitation and solid waste management, expanding basic urban amenities and promoting planned and sustainable urban settlements. The deputy chief minister called upon the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to extend technical guidance, capacity-building and support to smaller states and municipalities, particularly during the initial years of implementation.
