MPs express concern over Chinese build-up along LAC .

Monday, 28 November 2011 23:50 PNS | New Delhi


Rapid modernisation of military infrastructure including roads by China along the international border and Line of Actual Control (LAC) figured in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with at least 30 MPs expressing concern and seeking an explanation from the Government about the measures taken to counter this build-up.

This question came up in the backdrop of India lagging behind in building strategic roads in all the States in the Northeast and Ladakh facing China and Defence Minister AK Antony last week pulling up the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for delays in meeting the time lines.

The MPs, cutting across party lines, asked “whether the Government is aware of massive infrastructure building including road and rail links by China right up to the international border and also in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and threat posed to India?”

Antony, who recently said Chinese infrastructure build up was a matter of concern, replied: “The Government is aware that China is undertaking infrastructure development in the border regions opposite India. The Government is closely watching all the developments on the borders and reviews the threat perception regularly.”

In a written reply, he said 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 informed the Lok Sabha that 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. Antony last week assured the Rajya Sabha that all the strategic roads will be completed by 2016.

Giving the break up of funds utilised by the BRO for the strategic roads projects in the last five years, he said Rs 86 crore were spent in 2006-07, Rs 169 in crore in 2007-08, Rs 327 crore in 2008-09, Rs 624 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 657 crore in 2010-11.

Antony also informed the Lok Sabha that 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.