Tribune News Service

Guwahati, June 1

The Indian Air Force has made operational its advanced landing ground (ALG) at Mechuka in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Tibet in China, after keeping the ground idle for a long time.The strategic location of Mechuka ALG will make it a launch pad for the IAF operations as well as facilitate the administration in the management of border areas. In future, the ALG will also provide air support in meeting the challenges during natural calamities such as casualty evacuation and humanitarian assistance besides assisting in routine supply of equipment and rations to the troops posted in far flung areas, said Tezpur-based Defence spokesperson Lt-Col Sambit Ghose. The Mechuka ALG had remained abandoned for decades till it was decided in 2013 to reconstruct it and make it fully air operational.