Inter-State Panels To Check Illegal Trade In Northeast

GUWAHATI: A high-level coordination meeting among the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur here on Saturday decided to constitute three committees with senior officials of Excise, Forest and Environment and Police departments from all the north-eastern States for joint action in enforcing laws to check and curb illegal trades and have in place a better monitored transport system. These inter-state committees will meet at regular intervals for proper execution of their works in these sectors. The meeting called for coordination among the States on issues related to excise, finance (taxation), mines and minerals, environment and forest and transport.

The coordination meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Chief Secretary, Assam here on Saturday. The meeting, chaired by Assam’s Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, was also attended by Chief Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Satya Gopal. Chief Secretary, Manipur Dr. J Suresh Babu joined the meeting through video conference.

Chief Secretary of Assam, Alok Kumar initiated the discussion by dwelling on the high volume of traffic on the main highways of Assam connecting the State with other neighbouring States, its advantages and disadvantages and stressed strict execution of rules and laws to regulate the traffic on these highways. He underlined the need of designing a roadmap for a standardized process to protect revenue of the States, to curb illegal transportation of goods, to check smuggling of cannabis, ganja, and illegal drugs, among others, in Assam and the neighbouring States.

Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, Satya Gopal said that the State administration will cooperate with Assam and Manipur in curbing illegal trades of liquor, coal, timber and illegal drugs among other illegal items. He further said that a strong cooperation of departments and agencies concerned will check illegal transportation of commodities and movement of illegal goods to a large extent. He underscored the need of introducing the latest IT-enabled system in departments like Excise and Transport in Arunachal Pradesh for prompt action when contacted by officials from Assam in these sectors. He proposed for the formation of such committees with senior officials from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and other neighbouring States to curb all illegal trades and for better transport and traffic management, stated a release.

Chief Secretary of Manipur, Dr J Suresh Babu said that the Manipur administration would extend support and cooperation in controlling trade and transport by strictly executing the existing laws. He also stressed the need to reactivate the inter-state coordination of security system.

Additional Chief Secretaries of the State, Rajiv Kr. Bora and Jishnu Barua; ADGP (L&O) Mukesh Agarwal, Commissioner and Secretary (Home and Political) Ashutosh Agnihotri, Chief Conservator of Forest (HQ) Anurag Singh; Arunachal Pradesh’ Commissioner (Home) AK Singh, Principal Secretary (E & F) Lalram Thanga and PCCF Dr. Rabindra Kumar were also present at the meeting.

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