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Antony to take stock of border preparedness
Defence Minister AK Antony will take stock of operational preparedness of the armed forces vis-à-vis China during his two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh starting February 19.
He will also review the progress of construction of strategic roads by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) there besides participating in Arunachal Pradesh Day celebrations on February 20.
Incidentally, he is visiting the crucial State six months after a Chinese army patrol had intruded more 250 metres inside Arunachal in July and demolished a wall erected by the Indian Army. Army had constructed the 200-foot long wall to cut out chilly winds and prevent cattle from straying into Chinese territory. This issue had figured in Winter Session of Parliament last year.
Moreover, Antony’s visit assumes significance in the backdrop of the Army and IAF stepping up their efforts to improve infrastructure including airbases and forward positions in the strategically important border State. In fact, the IAF has upgrades at least five advanced landing grounds in the last two years to enable transport planes like AN-32 to land.
These planes will ensure round the year assured logistical support to the troops guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in inaccessible terrain where the nearest road heads are four to five days away as troops at present have to trek.
China is better placed as it has built roads right up to the LAC and airports thereby improving their logistical lines and putting India in a militarily disadvantageous position as China can rapidly move weapons and troops at a very short notice.
Incidentally, Antony has repeatedly said Chinese military infrastructure build-up in border areas was a matter of concern. Moreover, 30 MPs cutting across party lines had expressed similar concerns during the Winter Session last year and sought to know measures taken by the Government to counter China threat.
As regards the Minister’s forthcoming visit, sources said here on Sunday operational commanders will brief him about their preparations and he will also visit some forwards posts in snow bound hills.
On the issue of status of strategic roads, Antony had informed Parliament in December that out of 73 strategic roads, BRO is entrusted with 61 roads of total length of 3,394 km in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
He said out of 61 roads, 15 roads of length 563.87 km were already completed and work on 44 roads was under progress and building of two roads was yet to commence and assured MPs that all the strategic roads will be competed by 2016.
Giving the break-up of funds utilised by the BRO for the strategic roads projects in the last five years, he said Rs86 crore were spent in 2006-07, Rs169 in crore in 2007-08, Rs327 crore in 2008-09, Rs624 crore in 2009-10 and Rs657 crore in 2010-11.
Antony also informed Parliament two new strategic roads were under construction in Sikkim close to the international border. These roads are Sivok-Rangpo (44.39 km) and Murkongselek-Pasighat (30.617km). Moreover, conversion of Rangiya-Murkongselek (551.88 km) into broad gauge was also on, he said.
Defence Minister AK Antony will take stock of operational preparedness of the armed forces vis-à-vis China during his two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh starting February 19.
He will also review the progress of construction of strategic roads by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) there besides participating in Arunachal Pradesh Day celebrations on February 20.
Incidentally, he is visiting the crucial State six months after a Chinese army patrol had intruded more 250 metres inside Arunachal in July and demolished a wall erected by the Indian Army. Army had constructed the 200-foot long wall to cut out chilly winds and prevent cattle from straying into Chinese territory. This issue had figured in Winter Session of Parliament last year.
Moreover, Antony’s visit assumes significance in the backdrop of the Army and IAF stepping up their efforts to improve infrastructure including airbases and forward positions in the strategically important border State. In fact, the IAF has upgrades at least five advanced landing grounds in the last two years to enable transport planes like AN-32 to land.
These planes will ensure round the year assured logistical support to the troops guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in inaccessible terrain where the nearest road heads are four to five days away as troops at present have to trek.
China is better placed as it has built roads right up to the LAC and airports thereby improving their logistical lines and putting India in a militarily disadvantageous position as China can rapidly move weapons and troops at a very short notice.
Incidentally, Antony has repeatedly said Chinese military infrastructure build-up in border areas was a matter of concern. Moreover, 30 MPs cutting across party lines had expressed similar concerns during the Winter Session last year and sought to know measures taken by the Government to counter China threat.
As regards the Minister’s forthcoming visit, sources said here on Sunday operational commanders will brief him about their preparations and he will also visit some forwards posts in snow bound hills.
On the issue of status of strategic roads, Antony had informed Parliament in December that out of 73 strategic roads, BRO is entrusted with 61 roads of total length of 3,394 km in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
He said out of 61 roads, 15 roads of length 563.87 km were already completed and work on 44 roads was under progress and building of two roads was yet to commence and assured MPs that all the strategic roads will be competed by 2016.
Giving the break-up of funds utilised by the BRO for the strategic roads projects in the last five years, he said Rs86 crore were spent in 2006-07, Rs169 in crore in 2007-08, Rs327 crore in 2008-09, Rs624 crore in 2009-10 and Rs657 crore in 2010-11.
Antony also informed Parliament two new strategic roads were under construction in Sikkim close to the international border. These roads are Sivok-Rangpo (44.39 km) and Murkongselek-Pasighat (30.617km). Moreover, conversion of Rangiya-Murkongselek (551.88 km) into broad gauge was also on, he said.
