India Boldly Strengthens Borders: New Villages Arise in Arunachal Amidst Ambitious Infrastructure Push – Northeast News
India Plans ‘New Villages’ Near LAC in Arunachal Pradesh to Bolster Security and Development
Itanagar: India is set to establish "new villages" or "habitations" closer to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, mirroring China’s approach along the sensitive border. This strategic initiative aims to enhance security-civilian infrastructure and boost local development, according to a recent national daily report.
Current villages in Arunachal Pradesh, located approximately 50 to 60 kilometers from the LAC, have benefited from the Centre’s ongoing Vibrant Villages Programme. However, their distance from the LAC presents challenges for seamless integration into dual-use security-civilian frameworks. Consequently, the government has set targets to create new habitations nearer the LAC, leveraging existing infrastructure, including roads that reach forward military locations. These new habitations are also expected to foster adventure tourism, similar to successful initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran sector, which have attracted tourists to the Kishanganga riverbanks opposite Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Unlike Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where villages lie closer to the LAC, Arunachal Pradesh’s sparse population necessitates the founding of new habitations. This initiative aligns with the Vibrant Villages Programme, launched in Kibithoo, eastern Arunachal Pradesh, which aims to upgrade 662 villages with enhanced infrastructure, renewable energy, high-speed telecom connectivity, and tourism promotion.
In contrast, China has established 628 "prosperous villages" along the LAC, including areas opposite Arunachal Pradesh. These villages not only reinforce China’s territorial claims and military readiness but may also serve as legal defences under the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement-2005, protecting settled populations during future LAC delineation exercises.
India’s move to expand its presence and infrastructure near the LAC signifies strategic imperatives amid ongoing border tensions with China. The initiative underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its border regions through integrated development and security measures.
Original Story https://nenews.in/arunachal-pradesh/india-to-set-up-new-villages-near-lac-in-arunachal-amidst-border-infrastructure-push/11504/
Category : Arunachal Pradesh,Border Defence Cooperation Agreement-2005,border infrastructure,India’s Vibrant Villages Programme,Line of Actual Control
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