Itanagar, Apr 9: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Tuesday urged the 16th Finance Commission to provide a special ‘Green Bonus’ and targeted funding support for climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster management, and the restoration of critical water sources across the state.

During a meeting with Commission members Annie George Mathew, Dr Manoj Panda, and Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh—currently on a five-day visit to the state—Mein highlighted Arunachal’s ecological importance and its growing exposure to climate-related disasters like floods and landslides.

Citing the state’s 79 per cent forest cover and its key role in carbon sequestration, Mein called for compensation for forest conservation efforts through a dedicated Green Bonus. He also stressed the need to revise the Cost Disability Index to reflect the high cost of infrastructure development in Arunachal’s mountainous and remote terrain.

Emphasising Arunachal’s strategic location along international borders with China, Myanmar, and Bhutan, he proposed the development of ‘Model Border Villages’ equipped with roads, electricity, healthcare, and education facilities.

Mein also advocated for investment in multi-cropping, irrigation, and value-chain development in agriculture, along with tapping the state’s hydropower potential of over 58,000 MW.

He urged the Commission to consider Arunachal’s low population density, vast area, and high development costs to ensure fair and adequate financial devolution.

Reaffirming the state’s commitment to national growth, Mein expressed confidence that with the Commission’s support, Arunachal could become India’s eastern gateway and a model for sustainable, resilient development.