[Bengia Ajum]

ITANAGAR, 19 Aug: The recent economic and road blockade imposed against Arunachal Pradesh by the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) has reignited the need to develop intra-state road connectivity bypassing Assam. The blockade was imposed after violence broke out at Hime village in Lower Siang district when people from neighbouring villages in Assam entered the village in large numbers.

The blockade effectively cut off eastern and western Arunachal. As anger over the blockade grew, people started seeking answers from the government regarding the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor (EWIC), one of the main pet projects of Union Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, who is an MP from Arunachal.

The 692.70-km-long industrial corridor would run along the foothills on the Arunachal-Assam boundary. The DPR, which this daily was able to access, consists of two phases: Phase I, from Pasighat to Bhairabkhund (539 km), and Phase II, from Kanubari to Manmao (153.70 km).

Rijiju, while pushing for the project, had claimed that once completed, it would provide hassle-free road connectivity within the state, thereby negating any kind of blockade by Assam-based organisations against Arunachal. However, the project remains a non-starter.

Union MoRTH minister Nitin Gadkari, during his visit to Itanagar in 2015, had agreed in principle to fund the project as a state highway, provided the Arunachal government completed pre-construction activities such as land acquisition, forest clearance and a techno-economic feasibility study, along with the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

When contacted, chief engineer (highway) C.S Choutang said the matter is pending with the government for want of appropriate directions in this regard.

"Factors like non-issuance of unconditional land availability certificates by the concerned deputy commissioners, where the proposed highway alignment passes through their jurisdiction, and likely wildlife clearance issues meant that this project could not go ahead," CE Choutang said.

He further informed that DPRs have been submitted to the ministry except for the Seijosa-Bhalukpong section, which faced issues regarding forest clearance.

Earlier, the MoRTH, while replying to a complaint filed by All Arunachal Contractor Welfare Association president Nabam Akin Hina, had cited "land issue" as the main reason for the delay in starting the project.

"We were told that people refused to donate land free of cost, due to which the project could not be taken up. I don't know which districts they are talking about because in Papum Pare, people have written to the deputy commissioner agreeing to donate land free of cost. We only want the road," said Akin, who belongs to Belo village in Kimin circle of Papum Pare district. His village is located near the Assam-Arunachal boundary.

Besides the EWIC, an Inter-Connectivity Corridor (ICC) to connect districts along the Indo-Myanmar border in eastern Arunachal and East Kameng-Kurung Kumey was also mooted.

DPR consultancy works under this project for stretches including Khanu-Konsa Road and Panchao-Nagaland Border Road, Lazu-Wakka-Khanu & Konsa-Longding Road, Changlang-Khimiyang-Lazu Road, Kanubari-Hukanjuri-Deomali-Margherita Road, Seppa-Chayangtajo, and Chayangtajo in East Kameng to Langrh in Kurung Kumey via Sangram, Nyapin and Phassang, were started.

However, in June this year, the ministry wrote to the regional officer (MoRTH) seeking the foreclosure of DPR consultancy services. However, DPR work for the Itakhola-Seijosa-Pakke Kessang stretch has continued.

In March 2021, Chief Minister Pema Khandu had announced in the state assembly that the Arunachal government would soon take up construction of the proposed two-lane corridor project with the Centre. The Chief Minister had made the statement in reply to a question raised by MLA Wanglin Lowangdong in the Assembly.

At present, people of Arunachal largely depend on Assam for road connectivity. Taking advantage of the situation, Assam-based organisations impose blockades even over minor issues, thereby causing immense trouble to citizens.