With an eye on the evolving geopolitical situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Indian Air Force (IAF) seeks to fast-track building a new airbase at Lengpui in Mizoram.
Northeast News has reliably learnt that the IAF – represented by an Air Marshal – showed keen interest in going ahead with the airbase project at a recently concluded security meeting led by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, other home ministry and Mizoram government officials and senior BSF, Assam Rifles, and intelligence officials in Aizawl.
At the meeting, held on February 15, Mizoram government officials agreed in principle to allow the IAF to build a new facility over 200 acres adjacent to the existing commercial airport at Lengpui which is 32 kms northeast of Aizawl.
Once the proposal is green-flagged by the Mizoram government, the IAF will proceed to acquire land for the new airbase which will involve stationing fighter aircrafts and refueling facility at the strategic location.
From a security perspective, the main objective of the new IAF station will cover primarily Myanmar, Bangladesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While the main IAF airbase in the northeast is located at Tezpur and Chabua in Assam, the air force operates transport facilities in Silchar Jorhat and Dibrugarh (also in Assam), Bagdogra (in West Bengal) and Shillong in Meghalaya.
Besides, the BSF operates its own helicopters in Agartala (in Tripura) and Guwahati.
Sources said that the IAF had been trying to acquire land at Lengpui since 2016, but the move stalled as a consequence of lack of political consensus across Mizoram.
Even now, the opposition MNF, led by former Chief Minister Zoramthanga, has been opposing taking over of the Lengpui commercial airport by the IAF.
On February 15, a team of MNF legislators, led by Lalchhandama Ralte, visited Lengpui airport before railing the ruling Zoram People’s Movement government led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma.
In a scathing attack on the ZRM, Ralte said that previously the Congress government led by Lal Thanhawla and the MNF led by Zoramthanga had kept the IAF’s move to run the Lengpui airport.
Ralte’s objections to the IAF taking over the airport stemmed from two main concerns.
With Mizoram strategically located close to China and Myanmar, Ralte said that the airport could be developed into a base for fighter aircraft.
“This could negatively impact commercial flight frequencies and his Mizoram economically. Besides, there is the issue of noise pollution which might become disruptive,” Ralte said.
