Arunachal: Changlang-Tinsukia DC-Level Meet Resolves Border Issues, Strengthens Cooperation

ITANAGAR: An inter-district deputy commissioner-level conference between the deputy commissioners of the Changlang district (Arunachal Pradesh) and Tinsukia district (Assam) was convened on Friday to settle important administrative issues and step up coordination between the two border districts.

One of the principal decisions made during the conference was to reduce cases of unauthorized intrusions by Assam forest officials into Arunachal's territory.

The decision was made in the wake of a recent episode on 26 February, when Assam's Lekhapani range forest officials ventured into Jopakan and Hachengkan villages in Changlang district's Namtok circle for 'geotagging,' allegedly as part of a boundary demarcation exercise between the two states.

The unauthorized move caused alarm among the local administration and locals, necessitating a concerted effort to avoid such incidents.

The conference, which was convened by Changlang Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vishal Sah, dealt with an array of key issues, including border conflicts, illicit mining, development of infrastructure, and power pacts between the two states. Present at the conference representing Changlang district were Tirap Changlang Longding Peoples Forum (TCLPF) chief N Changmi, All Changlang Border Student Union president Gankhum Ronrang, Jairampur Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), and Jairampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).

Aside from boundary issues, the meetings also discussed the destruction inflicted on local horticultural crops, calling for measures to prevent farmers' livelihoods from being harmed. Authorities stressed that urgent actions had to be taken to alleviate these problems and maintain the health of affected communities.

Another major development that was brought to the fore during the meeting was the Margherita-Changlang road project, which has been approved and is to be started soon. The project will go a long way in enhancing connectivity between the two districts, leading to economic growth and easier coordination between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Police cooperation was also high on the agenda, with both district superintendents of police vowing to cooperate more closely to combat the increasing drug threat in the area. By improving collaborative efforts in intelligence sharing and enforcement, authorities aim to stem the increasing problem of drug trafficking and substance abuse in both districts.

Moreover, authorities on both sides were in agreement over the implementation of stricter actions against illegal mining, which has remained a problem area for both districts. Not only does illegal mining consume natural resources but it also contributes to environmental pollution and economic loss. The summit underlined enhanced enforcement measures to end such practices successfully.

Additional talks touched upon power purchase agreements, agriculture procurement policy, and the possibility of collaborative tourism marketing. Both districts have rich cultural and natural heritage, and there was a common understanding of using tourism as a strategy to develop the local economies and enhance relations between the two.

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