Amid Tensions With China, Uttarakhand Government Urges Defence Ministry To Give The Border State Four Air Strips

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has urged Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for better air connectivity in the strategically-located state.

Uttarakhand shares borders with Nepal and China.

The airstrips would help the armed forces in the transporting of men and material to the border areas of Uttarakhand, if situations of need arise, in the wake of the rising tensions between India and China.

Rawat has reportedly made requests for four quality strips to Singh over a phone call.

He has urged for the upgradation of the three existing airstrips in the three upper districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi.

He has requested an airfield for Almora — in the Chaukhutia area.

In the past, Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts have been victim to Chinese and Nepali aggression.

The upgrading of the airstrips and the additional airfield in Almora will serve military and civilian needs.

The Rawat-led government has urged for three advanced landing grounds, as per an India Today report.

Rawat said: "As Uttarakhand is a border state, the three airstrips can play an important role in enhancing national security. We, in the state, are also making all-out efforts to develop them as per requirements."

The Rawat government, just as the previous governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, considers road and air connectivity crucial to the internal security of the state and nation — in the wake of the exterior threats emanating in the border districts.

He is quoted as saying: “The Centre too has provided us a good team of Border Roads Organisation personnel and we have extended full cooperation to them. The obstacles on Lipulekh Road were removed by us and it helped BRO make a good road in the area. Similarly, an outstanding road has been made by BRO on the Niti Valley route.”

The government is currently witnessing an ongoing rail connectivity project from Yognagri Rishikesh to Karnaprayag in Pauri Garhwal district.

This project is expected to improve life and livelihoods in the upper district in Garhwal.

This, in turn, is expected to provide the required strengthening of villages for support to the Indian armed forces and the soldiers who are protecting the borders.

On 7 July, the strategically-important Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarkashi district saw action amid the activity at the Indo-China border.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) landed the twin engine A-32 transport aircraft and Mi-17 chopper at the airstrip.

The Indo-China border in Uttarakhand, reportedly, has seen the tightening of security with the IAF raising activity here.

In the night operations held earlier this month at a forward post at the LAC, IAF's Chinook chopper took on sorties, "loaded with high tech gadgets".

Though the airstrips in Uttarakhand are considered vital for security in the background of India stepping up work and efforts to build infrastructure along the LAC, they are considered fruitful for civilian needs and for backing tourism in the state.