Rajya Sabha member, team meet rebel Arakan Army inside Myanmar, discover poor condition of Kaladan project on Myanmar side

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

An Indian delegation, led by Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena, engaged in talks with the Arakan Army within Myanmar, weeks after the rebel group captured a crucial township near the Indian border.

details:

The meeting aimed to discuss the status of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, a $484 million connectivity initiative designed to enhance overland and water connectivity between India and Southeast Asia.
Key Discussions:
- The dialogue with the Arakan Army focused on two main issues: the refugee problem affecting the region and the progress of the Kaladan project.

Security and Autonomy Concerns:
- The situation indicates a loss of control by the Burmese military in the area, highlighting the influence of various rebel groups over approximately forty per cent of Myanmar’s territory.
Strategic Implications:
- The Kaladan project is strategically important for connecting India’s northeastern region to Southeast Asia, potentially enhancing commercial prospects through the port of Sittwe.
- The engagement with the Arakan Army, a non-state actor with growing influence, raises questions about the future legal status of the Kaladan project amid Myanmar’s complex political landscape.

About Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project:

Kaladan Project would link India and Myanmar via the Bay of Bengal.
It was jointly identified by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for the shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar.
It is being constructed by India under the Grant in Aid Scheme.
Once completed, it will link Kolkata with the Sittwe seaport in Rakhine state in Myanmar, primarily over the Bay of Bengal – covering over 500 km.
The project envisaged four important stages:
- Kolkata to Sittwe waterway;
- Sittwe to Paletwa inland (River Kaladan) waterway;
- Paletwa to India-Myanmar border post in Myanmar;
- Finally, linking the road to Lawngtlai in Mizoram as part of the project’s last leg;
Benefits:
- The project is expected to contribute to the economic development of the North-Eastern States of India.
- It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor.

Places in news:

Paletwa township- a part of Myanmar (border to India) currently controlled by the Arakan Army.
Port of Sittwe- A port of Myanmar and a part of the Kaladan Project.

Source: TH