The Center has informed a parliamentary panel that a “standalone project” is underway to build an important road along the border with China in Ladakh.
The panel was also told that along the Chinese border, construction of 57 roads, construction and renovation of 32 helipads, development of 47 outposts and twelve staging camps for ITBP as well as construction of 18 foot track in Arunachal Pradesh Work is going on
These were mentioned in the report of the Standing Committee on the Department on Demands for Grants of the Financial Year 2021-22 presented in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The committee is headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma.
India and China have been face to face in various areas of East Ladakh since April last year after they stopped Indian patrolling in Finger Area of Pangong Tso, China. Indian and Chinese troops have disbanded from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso (lake) in February, while the buildup continues on the Dipsang plains, Galawan, Gogra-Hot Springs.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla informed the panel that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has focused on “border infrastructure” and that in FY 2020-21, the government has signed Phase II of the India-China Border Roads (ICBR-II). The program is approved. The report stated, “The program includes a number of roads, foot tracks and border out posts (BoPs).”
The panel held meetings on February 16, 17 and 22, where officials reported that there were 11 demands for grants administered by the MHA.
The report states that as of November 2020, the total length of the road constructed along the China border was 538.50 kilometers. The first phase of ICBR was started in 2005 when it was decided that MHA would construct 27 priority roads totaling 608 km. With China. According to the report of the panel, construction of 25 priority roads of the first phase is still going on.
Roads and other projects have been constructed with the “Border Infrastructure and Management” fund for the maintenance of border infrastructure along the Bangladesh, Pakistan and China borders. The funds spent on border projects in 2019-20 was ₹ 2156.09 crore.
The construction of 47 border posts for the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force mentioned in the panel’s report was approved in 2014.
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