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Reports have pointed out that the Communist Party of Bhutan and India’s Northeast rebel groups like ULFA and NDFB have continued to maintain relations. Apprehensions were also being raised about the infiltration of militants from Bangladesh to Bhutan 1. Indian militant groups in Bangladesh were also reportedly shifting bases towards Nepal and Bhutan through North Bengal, thus raising security stakes in the region. In the past three months for instance, three trained KLO activists from the West Bengal-Assam border area in Tufanganj have been arrested2.
A press release by International Rivers, an environmental NGO, suggests that building of mega-dams to generate electricity by India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan can have an adverse impact on the Himalayan eco-system. The report suggests that the possible impact of climate change on the region should be considered before turning the Himalayas into the most heavily dammed region in the world3.
In other developments, in order to boost economic cooperation between Assam and Bhutan, the National Highway 151 linking Pathsala town in Assam to Bhutan border would be built4.
- 1. “India, Bhutan to boost security,” Assam Tribune, March 9, 2009, at http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar0909/at03
- 2. “Maoists, KLO shifting base: Reports,” The Statesman, March 9, 2009, at http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=10&id=279045&usrsess=1
- 3. “Himalayan dam boom spells trouble,” Peopleandplanet.Net, March 10, 2009, at http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=3516
- 4. “Highway connecting Assam-Bhutan border to be road to prosperity,” NewPostOnline, March 7, 2009, at http://www.newspostonline.com/national/highway-connecting-assam-bhutan-b...