ITANAGAR : Education Minister P D Sona on Tuesday stressed the need for creating quality infrastructure in higher education institutions while reviewing ongoing and completed projects under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).

Chairing the 9th council meeting of the Arunachal Pradesh State Higher Education Council (APSHEC), Sona emphasised optimum utilisation of central funds for strengthening the higher education sector in the state.

Expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Education for financing key infrastructure projects under RUSA and PM-USHA, the minister said Arunachal Pradesh, being a resource-constrained state, must ensure economic use of funds without compromising on quality and quantity of works.

He also called for constant monitoring and timely completion of projects being implemented across the state.

The meeting was informed that, as per government directives, all new projects would be executed through the Public Works Department (PWD) as the single implementing agency to maintain uniformity in infrastructure development.

Earlier, Department of Higher and Technical Education-cum-State Project Director (RUSA/PM-USHA) Dr Milorai Modi highlighted the role of APSHEC in implementation of the schemes and sought suggestions from council members for the holistic development of higher education in the state.

State Nodal Officer RUSA/PM-USHA Minto Ete presented a detailed report on action taken on decisions of previous meetings and the status of projects under the two schemes.

Education Commissioner Amjad Tak advised stakeholders to remain proactive in implementation of key projects and stressed the need for early acquisition of land allotment and land possession certificates for higher education institutions.