DM sets deadline for completion of all strategic roads along China LAC

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 27: The Defence Ministry today announced completion of all remaining 42 strategic Indo-China border roads along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  in Ladakh and North Eastern States by 2018 and directed the Chief Secretaries of various State Governments to constitute Empowered Committees under their chairmanship to resolve the hindrances, if any, in construction of the roads.
Replying to a written question tabled by Anurag Thakur, BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh, in Lok Sabha today, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the Government had taken up 73 roads as strategic for construction along Indo-China border in Ladakh and North Eastern States with a total length of 3410 kilometers, which were planned to be completed by 2012.
However, Parrikar said, out of 73 roads, 61 were entrusted to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Of them, so far only 19 roads with 625 kilometers length have been completed while connectivity has been achieved on 24 roads.
He added that the revised schedule has been adopted for remaining 42 strategic roads with 16 tipped to be completed in 2015, 13 in 2016, nine in 2017, two in 2017 and two beyond 2018.
The Defence Minister attributed delay in construction of roads to natural disasters such as flash flood in Leh in 2010, September 2014 floods in Kashmir, earthquake in Sikkim in 2011, delay in forest/wild life clearance, hard rock stretches, limited working season, difficulties in availability of construction material and delay in land acquisition.
He said the Government has asked the Chief Secretaries of the concerned State Governments to constitute Empowered Committees under their chairmanship with Secretaries of concerned departments as members to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest/wild life clearance and allotment of quarries etc.
“The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has given the general approval under Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act for diversion of forest land required for construction/widening of roads entrusted to BRO in the area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the LAC and for link roads between border roads in the area within 100 kilometer aerial distance from the LAC and National Highways/ State Highways/ Other roads subject to certain conditions,’’ Parrikar said.
He said the Central Government has also allowed outsourcing to augment capacity of BRO apart from long term roll on work and long term equipment plan. The Government has also given enhanced financial and administrative powers to the executives of BRO.
Meanwhile, Parrikar said transgressions along the LAC between India and China do occur but no Chinese incursion into the country’s territory has taken place.
“There is no commonly delineated LAC between India and China. There are areas along the border where India and China differs perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of LAC, transgressions do occur. Such transgressions have also occurred in the general area of Chumar in Ladakh sector. However, no incursion into the Indian territory by China has taken place,” Parrikar said in response to another question in Lok Sabha.
The Government regularly takes up any transgression along the LAC with the Chinese sides through establishment mechanism such as border personnel meetings, flag meetings and Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs wherein they are guided by various agreements between India and China, Parrikar said.
He said the Government was fully seized of the security needs of the country and it regularly reviews the threat perception to secure the country’s borders and protect its national interest.
The Minister also said that appropriate measures are taken from time to time to maintain/upgrade the country’s defence preparedness along the borders to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India.
“Military capacity enhancement and modernization of armed forces including armament and ammunition is a dynamic and continuous process and is done in consonance with our threat perception,” Parrikar said.

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