Tuki raises border issue, underdevelopment in remote villages

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today said the state is faced with growing challenges from issues rising from inter-state border dispute with Assam and the activities of under ground groups from outside.
Speaking at the conference of chief ministers of North East by Union Ministry of Home Affairs under the chairmanship of Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Guwahati today, Tuki said there is an agreement to maintain status quo, an official communique informed.
However, activities in disputed areas by either government would hamper maintenance of peace and tranquility in the area which needs to be addressed jointly, he suggested.

The chief minister requested the MHA to confirm that both the state governments abstain from activities in the disputed areas that may disturb peace and tranquility.
Responding to the issue, Singh advised both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments to strictly adhere to the agreement of status quo to maintain law and order along the inter-state boundary as directed by the Supreme Court, the communique said.
Dwelling on security along the international border, especially the Indo-Tibet border, Tuki said the challenge is that of under development, which is leading to thinning out of population from remote villages.

He urged the ministry to push the telecommunication department for speedy implementation of the recently cleared mobile telecommunication infrastructure for Arunachal Pradesh by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Tuki also proposed that the ministry may consider supporting the raising of Special Border Home Guard, which draws men and women from remote border blocks, and utilize their local knowledge and their physical sturdiness for security purposes.
Meanwhile, DoNER Minister Jitender Singh has announced a fund of Rs 225 crore for construction of inter-state roads that are lying almost defunct, the communique added.