Despite Chinese concern, India to go ahead with its plan of construction of frontier highway in Arunachal Pradesh

GUWAHATI: With China expressing concern over India’s plan to construct frontier highway along the McMohan line in Arunachal Pradesh, Union minister of state for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju said that the India has all the right to create critical infrastructure in its area.

The minister also informed that government will relax rules in the restricted area permit (RAP) for encouraging tourism in different pockets of Northeast India.
Rijiju who was in Guwahati to participate in a programme of PHD chamber of commerce said, “We are at freedom to construct highway in our territory. We are not harming neighbours interest. We have to develop our territories, especially those areas which are neglected for too long time. We are going to develop our own region.”

India plans to construct roads linking Mago-Thingbu in Tawang to Vijaynagar in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The 2,000-km long road is expected t cost Rs 40,000 crore. India plans frontier highway in its border. Northeast India shares border with China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar.

The minister said, “We are not venturing into others territory. Its is our domain. Other countries should not have any objection when we are not doing anything harmful to them," Rijiju said.

He continued, "We are not doing anything which is adverse to the interest of our neighbours. Whatever is being done, it is for our own people and for the connectivity of our own people living in border areas."

China sharply reacted to India's plans to construct a road network along the McMohan line inArunachal Pradesh and expressed hope that India will not take any action which may complicate the situation before a final settlement is reached to end the boundary dispute.

The MHA will relax the Restricted area permit for some pockets in Northeast India which required by foreigners to visit certain parts of North East. "We have decided to relax the norms of Protected Area Permit. I have discussed it with my senior ministers,. The foreign affairs department of his ministry is working on it."

"Relaxation of visa, permission to travel from one place to another in North East and any other issues, you will get all support from us to promote tourism in the region. However, the relaxation will not be a blanket one for the entire region."

He added that "North East has the highest numbers of insurgents, student groups and autonomous state demands in the world. Demanding is not their problem, its their right. We have to admit that we have faltered. Governments in region have to realise that they have failed.

On the arrest of six operative of Jamaat- ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Assam in connection the explosion on October 2 in a house at Khagragarh in Burdwan town in West Bengal, he said he will not say anything as the matter is under investigation.

Rijiju said "any place, any fundamental activities to the extreme are disturbing. We have to contain that kind of forces anywhere in the country. We are checking everything and we are ensuring that it does not go beyond a point... There are reports and we are very careful now."

The minister also pointed out that he is not in favour of against of big dams in North East and favoured smaller ones with 300-500 MW capacities. "Traditionally I am not for big hydro power projects in North East. I am not in favour of 4,000 MW or 5,000 MW projects. I am fine if one or two big projects of 3000 MW or 4000 MW come up in the region with consultations with the public.

He said that NHPC has lost Rs 7,000 crore due to delay in the commissioning of 2000 MW Lower Subansari project along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Work in the project site has come to a halt since last two years after anti dam protest. He explained that if a country's Mini-Ratna category PSU like NHPC is facing a situation like this, then it is a very serious issue.

Union minister of State for Home said the Centre will look into the issue of NGOs getting foreign money and creating obstruction in construction of the project. Power ministry is talking to different groups.

He said government in Arunachal Pradesh has messed up the power. “One should not call Arunachal Pradesh power house as there is not enough power there and state has to purchase from Assam to meet its electricity demand. I met the chief minister, Nabam Tuki requested to expedite power projects and not to just have MOUs.