Cabinet nod to Central plans to check China on LAC

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, February 15: Union Cabinet in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved two proposals with clear aims to check Chinese attempts to run through the line of actual control (LAC). Making clear that India will scale up the infrastructure development to match similar efforts across the LAC by China, the Union Cabinet approved a Central plan for Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttaranchal, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The four states and the Union territory face China on a long border which is not yet demarcated. China, noted by several international strategic experts, has been carrying out ‘Salami Slicing (usurping neighbour’s land gradually)’ on the LAC with India. Besides, the Union cabinet also gave its nod to the proposal to raise seven new battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is principally tasked to man the LAC. The new battalions will take care of the new outposts which are being crated on the LAC to keep a watch on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

Incidentally, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP)” for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with financial allocation of Rs 4800 Crore will spend half the financial allocations on building roads. “This will be a Central scheme but if the need be the Centre will bear 100 per cent cost. The aim of the scheme is to build infrastructure and also help the people find gainful employment locally so that they don’t have to migrate to cities,” said Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, while briefing the media about the Cabinet decisions.

It may be recalled that the Border Road Organisation (BRO) and others have carried out several road projects in areas adjoining the LAC with China in the last two years, which gained pace after the 2020 Galwan skirmish, which had left soldiers on both sides killed. “The scheme will provide funds for development of essential infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities in 19 districts and 46 border blocks in four states and Ladakh along the northern land border of the country. In the first phase 663 villages will be taken up in the programme,” said the official press statement on the Cabinet decision.

Key outcomes that have been attempted in the scheme include all-weather road, drinking water, 24×7 electricty, while solar and wind energy will be given focussed attention, besides mobile and internet connectivity. “There will not be overlap with Border Area Development Programme. Out of financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore 2500 crore rupees will be used for roads,” added Thakur.