Land acquisition for  defence, new ALGs discussed

ITANAGAR, Apr 20: Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar on Thursday met chief minister Pema Khandu at his office here and held a high-level review meeting on defence-related issues in the state.
According a warm welcome to the defence secretary, the chief minister discussed issues related to land acquisition for defence purposes, status of ALGs, railway line from Missamari in Assam to Tawang, and other security related issues.
State officials briefed Kumar on dual compensation for land raised by the defence forces, a report on which is awaited from a group of ministers formed to deal with it. The officials said process was on for grant of permanent rights instead of lease-holding rights to defence authorities on condition that they pay annual lease rent of Rs 10 per sq. m, which is as per the amended rules of state’s land settlement laws.
It was also informed that the defence authority had on March 30 approved use of six ALGs for civilian use towards promotion of tourism and other commercial activities besides helping the sick and those who need urgent transportation.
The meeting also discussed ALGs to be constructed in Dirang and Tawang, for which the chief minister assured speeding up clearance of pending issues to expedite their construction.
Defence officials briefed Kumar on India’s first adventure sports institute – National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS) established in 2013 in Dirang. The institute, under control of Ministry of Defence, provides training in mountaineering, aero and aqua sports.
The defence officials stressed the need to fast-track work on ALG in Dirang to meet expectations of high-end tourists for sports adventure.
On Missamari-Tawang railway line, expected to complete by October 2020, the officials sought completion of location survey works at the earliest for the project to start. The survey work for the project, estimated
 to cost Rs 50,000-70,000 crore, is expected to begin next year.
The meeting also discussed establishment of an Army brigade and Army cantonment in Khonsa and state capital respectively.
The meeting was attended by Town Planning and Urban Development minister Nabam Rebia, senior army and state officials. (CMMC)