House panel slams MoD on China watch
The parliamentary committee on defence has criticised the ministry of defence (MoD) for its “casual attitude” in not maintaining any details or data about infrastructure created on the borders by some of India’s neighbouring countries, “particularly China”.
The committee, in its report on “Construction of roads in the border areas of the country”, noted, “The committee finds that whereas it is an acknowledged fact that roads and other infrastructure is being created on the borders by different countries, particularly China, the ministry (of Defence) has not maintained any details or data with regard to such activities going on (at) the borders which is evident from the response of the ministry,. This speaks volumes of the casual attitude of the ministry towards such an important matter concerning the security of the nation. The committee feels that it is utmost necessary to keep a watch on the construction activities going on (at) our borders by different countries and maintain the data in this regard.”
The committee added that “the infrastructure being created on the border by our neighbouring countries particularly China further poses challenges before the country”. China is reported to be rapidly building military infrastructure in the border regions of Tibet.
The parliamentary committee also slammed the Border Roads Organisation for its “sense of complacency” and noted the admission of the ministry of defence (MoD) Secretary that a long term perspective plan to construct 277 border roads measuring 13,100 km by 2012 may fail to meet the deadline.
Lambasting the poor maintenance of some of the border roads, the Parliamentary Committee pointed out that even during the month of June, the “road condition at high altitude areas was so bad that it took seven hours” to travel from Leh to the Pengong Tso lake (which is at the LAC). The committee also noted the inadequacy of air-support for air-lifting BRO equipments to border areas.
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