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Defence Minister A K Antony has given financial approval for raising the 2nd battalion of the Arunachal Scouts. Antony informed Arunachal Chief Minister Nabam Tuki that a notification in this regard would be released soon to allow the process of recruitment to start. Member of Parliament Takam Sanjoy and other lawmakers from the state accompanied Tuki during their meeting with Antony on Monday. The Chief Minister also discussed in detail the condition of roads under implementation by the Border Road Organization, and impressed upon the Defence Minister to expedite the said works in the interest of the state and the country. Two years after its formation, the 1st Arunachal Scouts battalion led by a commanding officer in the rank of a colonel, had arrived at its headquarters in Riyang, 30 km off East Siang HQ Pasighat, on April 29. The efforts of Governor J.J. Singh, former chief minister Dorjee Khandu and Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy need special mention in translating the idea to reality with multifaceted impact - employment for locals; giving an opportunity to patriotic Arunachalees to serve the nation; and providing security to the unmanned inhospitable and porous international border of the nation in the landlocked Himalayan state. Arunachal has the longest international boundary among the states in the country with 1,680 km - 160 km with Bhutan , 1,080 with China and 440 km with Myanmar . Antony also assured that he would take up the matter of the organization's performance in Arunachal Pradesh with BRO authorities. Tuki had sought Antony 's intervention over the deteriorating condition of the BRO's Bhalukpong-Tawang Road , as well as other BRO roads in the state that have been damaged by rainfall and landslides. Tuki also requested Antony to instruct the NHPC to expedite the construction of a tunnel from Sessa to Jang. The survey for the ambitious tunneling project bypassing Sela Pass to bring Tawang - the Last Shangri La on Earth - closer and make the journey less strenuous, was conducted on January 28, 2010, to finalize the site. Once the tunnel is completed, and the double-laning of the Bhalukpong-Tawang road is complete, Tawang, located at 10,200 feet above sea level on the Sino-India border and the abode of the 400-year-old Buddhist monastery, will attract many more tourists from far and wide than ever before.

2nd Arunachal Scouts battalion approved