HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Jan 17: Arunachal Pradesh Minister of Forest and Environment & Mining Wangki Lowang on Saturday pledged to advocate for permanent preservation of unexplored historical sites and resources in Tirap district, brimming with tourism potential.
Speaking to media in Namsang village—his assembly constituency—Lowang highlighted scattered “untouched” gems across Tirap, including Ahom-era Maidams (earthen mounds) and around 80 saltwater springs known locally as “Nimok Pung.” These sites, he noted, hold immense historical value and could boost eco-tourism.
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“There are many unexplored and untouched resources and sites scattered all over Tirap district which have immense tourism potential as well as historical significance. I will take up the matter of permanent preservation with the Arunachal Pradesh government,” the minister stated.
The announcement followed a two-day extensive field survey conducted by Padmashree awardee and distinguished historian Professor Jogendra Nath Phukan and his research team, invited by Lowang to document various unexplored sites across the district.
“I express my gratitude towards Prof Phukan and his team for conducting the field survey during which various documentary evidence was successfully matched with ground reality,” Lowang said.
The survey identified several historically significant sites, including Maidams or Moidams—earthen burial mounds referenced in Assam’s historical texts relating to the Ahom era. These structures provide tangible evidence of historical connections between the Ahom kingdom and Tirap’s indigenous communities.
Perhaps most remarkably, researchers documented approximately 80 saltwater resources locally known as “Nimok Pung.” According to local residents, these natural salt springs played a crucial role in the region’s historical economy.
“These saltwater resources were once largely used by locals to produce salt, which was bartered with people in the plains of lower Assam in exchange for essentials,” community members explained, revealing an ancient trade network that sustained the region for generations.
At the conclusion of his survey, Professor Phukan expressed optimism about preservation efforts. “I hope that the Arunachal Pradesh government will come forward in permanent preservation of these important and historically significant resources, which can turn out to be major places of attraction for visiting tourists,” he stated.
