Study needed to find if enemies involved in rise of natural disasters in border states: Rajnath

“The frequency of natural disasters has risen in some states and Union Territories like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh. Experts believe it is linked with climate change. But I think a study needs to be conducted to find if there is also a role of our adversaries in it,” Singh said, without naming any country. “The Ministry of Defence is taking this very seriously,” he said.

His comments came against the backdrop of China ramping up border infrastructure along the nearly 3,500 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) that criss-crosses the frontier regions of Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.

The 35 projects include 29 bridges and six roads. The border infrastructure projects will boost connectivity to the LAC and the Line of Control (LoC), thus facilitating swift military movement to the borders.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), eleven of the projects are in Jammu and Kashmir, nine in Ladakh, eight in Arunachal Pradesh, three in Uttarakhand, two in Sikkim and one each in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.

Rajnath said the Modi government, unlike previous governments, considers border areas as a part of the mainstream and not a buffer zone.

“Governments used to work with the mentality that the people living in the plains are the mainstream people. They were worried that the developments on the border might be used by the adversary,” he said, adding that due to this narrow mentality, development never reached the border areas.

“We are developing infrastructure on the mountains and deploying the troops on hill borders in such a way that it is ensuring the safety of the people there, and helping the military to effectively deal with our adversaries,” Singh said.

The defence minister described the large migration from border areas in Uttarakhand as “a matter of concern”. He said the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister are taking the schemes related to infrastructure development to the last person as the aim is to cover the development journey from the seas to the borders.

“People living near the borders are no less than soldiers. If a soldier protects the country by wearing a uniform, the residents of border areas are serving the motherland in their own way,” he said.

Commending the Border Roads Organisation for strengthening the border infrastructure of the country, he said the organisation is connecting the far-flung areas with the rest of the nation geographically, while also linking the hearts of the people residing in remote villages with the rest of the citizens through construction of bridges and roads.
He made special mention of the BRO’s contribution in the recent Silkyara Tunnel operation to rescue the trapped labourers in Uttarakhand.

The MoD said the projects have been constructed under challenging weather conditions at the most inhospitable terrains. The event was organised on the Dhak Bridge, a 93-metre-long Class 70R bridge over Dhak Nallah that was inaugurated by Singh Friday.

“The Dhak Bridge assumes strategic importance as it will provide increased connectivity to the borders and enhance operational preparedness of the Armed Forces,” a defence ministry statement said, adding that it will also boost the socio-economic development of the region as it is the only road connecting villages from Joshimath to Niti Pass. “This will not only promote tourism, but also generate more employment opportunities,” it added. The remaining 34 projects include 38.25-km long Ragini-Ustad-Pharkian Gali Road in J&K which will provide all weather connectivity between the Valley’s Tangdhar and Keran sectors. (With PTI inputs)