The incident leading to exacerbation of tension at Joyrampur-Chilonibasti close to the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh inter-state border, Minister for Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya visited the spot on Friday to defuse the tension and to restore peace and normalcy.
At the directive of Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to visit the area following reports of encroachment and destruction of forest from another side of the border leading to tension on June 11, Minister Suklabaidya visited the area accompanied by MLA Bhuban Pegu and MLA, Kardo Nyigyor from Arunachal Pradesh, Deputy Commissioner, SP, Dhemaji, DFO, and other officials to take stock of the situation and to defuse the tension.
He appealed to the local people not to cut trees and to protect the environment as ‘the brunt of deforestation has affected everyone. The Minister assured of cooking gas connections to the families with valid voters’ identity cards as a substitute for firewood.
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Suklabaidya asked the MLA from Likabali, Arunachal Pradesh, Nyigyor to ensure there is no encroachment and activities like the felling of trees have to be stopped. He also asked Nyigyor to ensure that the gravel road running through the paddy fields is not obstructed in any manner.
Suklabaidya said the present government led by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has been trying to resolve the border disputes with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Mizoram. He said as the matter relating to a border dispute with Arunachal Pradesh is pending in the Supreme Court, the status quo has to be maintained. The Minister said the Government of Assam is making sincere efforts to resolve the border row with neighboring states at the highest level. “The present Government is not only trying to bring about a permanent solution to the border disputes with our neighbouring states at the highest level but also exploring ways for finding the solution by way of out of the court settlement,” he added.