GUWAHATI, Sept. 23 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday laid foundation stones for projects worth over Rs.5,100 crore in Arunachal Pradesh, including two hydropower plants in Shi Yomi district along the China border, calling them "double benefits of double engine" Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at the Centre and in the state. The over Rs.3,700 crore power projects-Heo (240 MW) and Tato-I (186 MW)-on the Siyom sub-basin in Shi Yomi district, seek to harness the hydroelectric potential of Arunachal Pradesh and promote sustainable energy generation, bringing socio-economic benefits to the region. "My Arunachal visit has become special due to three reasons. I got to see such beautiful mountains on the first day of Navratri...Secondly, the next generation GST reforms have started from today and lastly so many development projects (for which foundation stones were laid) for Arunachal," the PM said at a public meeting in state capital Itanagar. The two projects were launched even as a section of locals have been protesting against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) due to environmental concerns. In May, hundreds of people took to the streets in three Arunachal Pradesh districts against the deployment of central paramilitary forces for surveys for the hydropower project on the Siang River. The government has maintained that the SUMP would counter the potential risks of a mega Chinese hydropower project across the border on the same river. In December, China approved the construction of what will be the world's biggest hydropower dam on the eastern rim of the ecologically fragile Tibetan plateau. The approval triggered concerns about the impact of the dam, which could affect millions in India and Bangladesh. During the event, Modi hit out at the previous Congress governments for allegedly overlooking Arunachal Pradesh in terms of development, as the state has only two Lok Sabha seats. "One inherent habit of the Congress is that they never take up development work which is difficult to do; they abandon it. This habit of Congress caused significant harm to Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast..." he said. He added: "When I took charge, I decided to do away with that attitude of Congress and focused on development of the northeast...Since 2014, we have increased budget allocation for the region manifold...Since BJP came to power in Centre, Union ministers have visited northeast over 800 times and I have come here over 70 times." The PM further referred to the programme for the development of backward districts and work undertaken in around 450 villages in Arunachal near the border with China. He said the areas once considered impossible for building roads now have modern highways. "The Sela tunnel, which was once unthinkable, is now a proud identity of Arunachal. The Hollongi airport has a new terminal and has flights connecting directly to Delhi," he said, adding that all these connectivity projects eased travelling and helped farmers send their produce to big markets. Modi reiterated that India will become developed only when it becomes self-reliant. "For that to happen, we have to stress on swadeshi. It is the call of the times that we buy or sell only things made in India."...