ILP double-edged sword, says Arunachal Speaker

SHILLONG, July 30: Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Pasang D. Sona said the inner-line permit (ILP) has its merits and demerits.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 20th annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone III on the concluding day here on Sunday, he said ILP puts restrictions on investment since investors are reluctant to put their money in a place with so many regulations.
“At the same time, ILP is a good tool for protecting the ethnicity and the interest of the indigenous people and their culture. It is for this reason I term ILP as a double-edged sword,” Sona, also the chairman of the CPA India Region Zone III said.
He further said that if the priority is on protecting identity and culture, one has to compromise on the investment front. If investment is also a priority, then the government needs to explore other available options, the Arunachal Assembly Speaker said.
According to him, it is for the government to decide and analyse whether the implementation of ILP is going to benefit the state.
Sona said the Arunachal Pradesh government does not have any plan to do away with the ILP. It has put in place a system enabling people to apply for the ILP online or get it at the point of entry.
“The ILP is not much of a problem but it is a mental block as people do not want a permit to visit the state. So, we eased the process of applying for ILP,” he said.
On a different note, Sona said the participants at the conference reached a consensus on certain suggestions, including the need for a road connecting the North East to mainland India apart from the one through the Siliguri Corridor also known as the ‘Chicken Neck’.
He stated there is a need for proper study of natural disasters in the region toward solutions to minimise damage.
Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan said the agendas discussed at the two-day conference are crucial for the region.
He hoped the new ideas and perspectives that emerged from the discussions would result in important policies required to achieve a holistic development of the region and propel it to new heights.
These suggestions would be documented and shared with the CAP headquarters in London, the CPA India Region headquarters and the ministries concerned for incorporation in their policies.
The conference, hosted by the Meghalaya Assembly, concluded on a successful note with the presiding officers, parliamentarians, legislators, commissioners, and secretaries of legislative assemblies of the northeastern states participating.
The deliberations on the second day of the conference were on natural disasters and strategies for management with special reference to the Northeast and connectivity to bring the region on par with mainland India.
The plenary session, chaired by Sona, was marked by insightful discussions and constructive contributions from the participants.