Centre plans more integrated check posts, 'haats' in northeast

The Centre was considering setting up more integrated check posts (ICPs) and border 'haats' in the northeast to boost trade ties with neighbouring countries, union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

While construction of the ICP in Tripura capital Agartala was started last year, the central government has also decided to set up ICPs at Moreh in Manipur, Kaladan and Demagiri in Mizoram, and at Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju told the media at the Circuit House in Guwahati.

"The Look East policy was actually bypassing India's northeast all these years. However, we have made it Act East policy and our focus is on the northeast. The opening of ICPs will facilitate trade with neighbouring countries," he said.

He said the government was further exploring more locations for ICPs.

"There might be some ICPs in Dhubri and Karimganj in Assam, at Dawki in Meghalaya and so on," he said.

The government was also working on opening some border 'haats' or bazars in certain areas, he said.

Rijiju, who is a Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh, said illegal trade was going on in many places along the border.

Opening of the ICPs will legalise trade and benefit people in the neighbouring countries, he said.

The minister also spoke about the achievements of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government in its first year in office.

"The biggest achievement of the government is that there has not been a single case of accusation or allegation against any ministries. There is no place for middlemen in any ministries and there is transparency now," he said.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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