Dollungmukh
Assam Govt officials on Friday demolished five tourist lodges at the Assam-Arunachal border. These tourist lodges are under construction in Kherbari village, under Dollungmukh circle of Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh
The eviction drive was conducted by North Lakhimpur District Administration on a request from the officials of Indian Air Force, as they claims that the area where the lodges were being constructed falls under its bombing exercise zone.
Dollungmukh Circle Officer Koj Tacho, who was present during eviction drive, informed that he did not get any eviction notice from the Assam officials. “By the time I reached the spot, they had already dismantled five under-construction structures and boundary walls” he said.
“When I strongly protest the North Lakhimpur DC claimed that he had intimated his Lower Subansiri counterpart and the tourism director,” the CO said.
“I have written several times to the Lower Subansiri DC and the Arunachal Pradesh tourism director, raising concern over the structures being built along the disputed area. But I did not get any response from their end,” said Dy Commissioner North Lakhipur.
He said the Assam side has been maintaining the status quo along the boundary as per the Supreme Court ruling. “But the Arunachal government violated it by constructing structures.”
However, Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Kemo Lollen denied that his office received any complaint letter from his North Lakhimpur counterpart, intimating about any proposed eviction drive.
Tourism Director Kangto Danggen also clarified that his department did not receive any official letter from the North Lakhimpur DC informing about any eviction drive.
Meanwhile, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has condemned the incident in strongest term and stated that such situation in border areas are the source of disturbances and is hampering the peace and tranquillity among the people of the states.
It added that an AAPSU team led by its vice president (administration) Meje Taku will visit the spot on to collect first hand information.
