ITANAGAR: Chief minister

has expressed concern over the decline of use of local languages at home. Speaking on the occasion of the Boori Boot Yullo festival at Dollungmukh in Kamle on Wednesday, Khandu appealed to people of the state to preserve local languages and thereby preserve their cultures.

"The essence of culture is in the language and without it the very fabric of culture will be destroyed," said the chief minister. He said it is regrettable that many tribal families of the state speak at home in English and Hindi these days instead of their local language. The diversity of

is unchallenged and people of the state should be proud of their heritage, he added.

"Tourists wanting to experience indigenous tribal culture is among the fastest growing sections of the tourism industry today," the chief minister also said. Foreign tourists come to Arunachal not to imbibe modernity but instead authentic indigenous culture.

Speaking on issues of development, Khandu said the demand for creation of Kamle district was accepted considering the vast geographical area of Raga constituency, its isolation and backwardness. The state government will continue to support creating infrastructure in the disctict, he said.

The chief minister also assured to fund construction of SDO secretariat building and repair and maintenance of existing government office infrastructure. Khandu also inaugurated the new subdivisional office and laid foundation for a PWD subdivision office, while the deputy chief minister, who accompanied Khandu, laid foundation for a 100-bed VKV girls hostel, an official communique said.