Kiren Rijiju dedicates Pasighat advanced landing ground to nation

Activation of this ALG will improve response time for various operational situations, efficacy of air operations in eastern frontier

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Friday dedicated to the nation the Pasighat advanced landing ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh which will allow fighter aircraft like Su 30 MKI to land and take off, in a major fillip to India's military capabilities along its border with China.

Terming it a red letter day in the history of the state, Rijiju said with the formal inauguration of the ALG that is capable of operating all types of aircraft and helicopters after Tezpur and Chabua, development process has started in the state which was lagging behind even after 70 years of independence.

Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command, who was present on the occasion said, "The ALG would enhance air support capability for the Army, paramilitary forces and the civil administration and would facilitate air connectivity for the people of Arunachal Pradesh with the rest of the country."

Pasighat ALG is a strategic asset and would be one of the operating bases under the Eastern Air Command capable of operating all types of aircraft and helicopters, Easterm Air Command spokesperson said.

Activation of this ALG would not only improve the response time for various operational situations but also the efficacy of the air operations in the eastern frontier.

The Union Minister of State for Home said, "The Northeast region abundant with rich natural resources is lagging behind in terms of development due to various reasons and the NDA government at the Centre is committed for its development on par with other parts of the country."

"The Northeast, a jewel in the country's crown was known to the rest of the country only after the 1962 Chinese aggression," he said.

Rijiju added that the commitment of the Centre was proved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed all the ministers to personally visit the region along with departmental officers to oversee the requirements.
(Reopens CAL 2)

Rijiju said the PM has asked all the nine women ministers at the Centre to visit border areas of the country and tie rakhis to the Army jawans guarding the border to instill confidence among them.

Stating that there would be no dearth of development fund for the state, the Union minister asked the state government to judiciously utilise all the Central funds without compromising on the quality of work and time line.

"There should be a close coordination between the Centre and the state government to remove the 'under-developed' tag of Arunachal," Rijiju said.

A flypast by three Sukhoi-30 MKI Air Dominance Fighters, which took off from Chabua airbase in Tinsukia district of Assam, was the major attraction of the function.

Out of the three Sukhois, one piloted by Group Captain Satbir Singh and co-piloted by Mustaq Ahmed, landed at the ALG for the first time bringing cheers among the people of the centurion town in East Siang district.

The ALG at Pasighat was earlier partly paved and partly grassy, and smaller in size.

To bolster the operational capability in the eastern part of the state, IAF took over the ALG in February 2010 and started the aviation infrastructure development.

The ALG was earlier utilised for air maintenance sorties and casualty evacuation by the IAF.