38 outposts flagged off in Arunachal, Ladakh bordering China
Thirty-four border outposts in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh along the India-China border have received significant clearance from an environment panel. These include some areas where hostilities have been seen along the border between Indian and Chinese troops recently.
The approvals, paving the way for augmenting strategic border infrastructure, come amid reports of repeated incursions by Chinese troops into the border areas.
Many of the 24 border outposts of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which were cleared in the September 24 meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), are in areas where Indian troops interact with People’s Liberation Army troops. There was a clash. (PLA) last summer.
The construction of 24 border outposts at Chushul, Hot Springs, Chumar, Dungti, Dhan Singh, PP 16, Silung La, Hanle, Lukung, Bao Nala and others have been termed as “important from the point of view of national security” in government documents. 65 hectares of forest land will be diverted from Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Permission has also been sought and granted for the construction of the Marshimikala-Kiu La road and the Mahay-Debring road in the vicinity – projects that were sent for approval in January this year.
However, several projects were awaiting approval from March 2020. The Lt Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur recently raised the issue of expediting wildlife clearance for border projects. The approval comes just a month after the NBWL cleared the way for a dozen important roads in the same area, including an alternate linkage to Daulat Beg Oldi.
Similarly, NBWL has now cleared the way for nine other border outposts in Arunachal Pradesh away from Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Some of these outposts will be made at Kapura, Tapola, Kangri, Balchida, Fufu, Lama, Amaha near the sanctuary area, about 4-11 km from the International Border.
NBWL has also given wildlife clearance to Nechipu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh to connect the already existing B.C.T (Balipara-Charidwar-Tawang) road.
The tunnel is expected to help the Indian Army bypass dense fog areas along the border.
38 outposts flagged off in Arunachal, Ladakh bordering China
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News East India staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
