Itanagar: Galo Students’ Union (GSU) has demanded immediate shifting of advance landing ground (ALG) from Aalo in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh to a more suitable location.
In a representation submitted to the chief secretary, the Union objected to the ongoing renovation and proposed extension of the ALG as there is no sufficient free land for expansion of the ALG as many official and business establishments have come up within the vicinity of the ALG land.
Besides that old market and new market areas comes up within the 100 meter radius of the parapet of the ALG, it pointed. ‘If the government is determined to go ahead with the proposed expansion work, then it should first shift all the people to a more suitable place or shift the ALG out of Aalo township’ it said. ‘As per government report, the existing runway is suitable for intended IFA operations only. But it is insufficient for fixed wing operations intended for civilian purpose.’ ‘Also, there is no sufficient land for development for civil terminal building (civil enclave) which is mandatory as per the MoU signed between the state government and the Union Ministry of Defense,’ the representation said.
‘The renovation work of the ALG is still going in spite of the successive DCs and land management department have expressed their inability to provide additional land which indicates that the constructing agency is trying to build the ALG for defense purpose only which is a clear violation of the MoU,’ it claimed.
Informing that the local people of Aalo have already offered a suitable alternative site free of cost for development of the ALG at Tarmoba located some 10-15 km from Aalo, the Union demanded immediate stoppage of all ongoing works at ALG by until the concerns raised by are addressed.
It further demanded immediate publication of a white paper regarding the initiative to be undertaken by the government on rehabilitation and shifting of the existing 224 permanent structures and the re-alignment of Aalo-Yinkiong BRTF road in case the ALG is extended at the present location.
GSU gave authority a three month time frame to address the concerns raised by its failing which the union threatened to launch a democratic movement for fulfillment of the demands. (UNI)
