An advanced airfield for military and commercial use in strategically important Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh may not be feasible because of topographic constraints and weather, a preliminary evaluation shows.
The government had identified a place called Sogyatse in Tawang district to develop an advanced landing ground (ALG). The preliminary analysis, however, shows that the area may not be conducive, official sources said.
“...I am yet to get a complete technical report on the project. However, other than Tawang, work on other landing grounds at Mechuka, Ziro Passighat, Tuting, Vijaynagar, Walong and Aalo is in full swing. I think the highest number of advanced landing grounds in the country is being built in Arunachal,” Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.
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Tawang, which borders Tibet, is strategically important for India as China’s People’s Liberation Army had reached Tezpur during the 1962 war through this route.
Poor connectivity is a major problem as it takes nearly 16 hours to reach Guwahati, a distance of 600 kilometres, through treacherous roads.
“If an ALG in Tawang could materialise for military and civil purposes, we can give a boost to the economy here by promoting tourism. This area has immense potential in tourism but people don’t come here because of the long and tiring journey,” Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Pema Khandu said.
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Considering the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre has sanctioned a Rs. 720-crore package to develop the ALGs.