Local Councillor voices concern, shares images
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: China has reportedly installed three mobile towers on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but close to the Indian territory in Chushul area of Ladakh.
Independent Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh from Chushul Konchok Stanzin told the Excelsior on telephone that installation of three mobile towers by China close to the Indian territory (though on its own side) is definitely a cause of concern.
“China has no habitation in the areas where they have installed mobile telephone towers. So, it becomes more serious. Either they want to settle people in the area or they have other reasons,” Stanzin said.
However, he said, India hasn’t so far installed 4G mobile towers in some of the villages which are populated and located close to the LAC.
“We should also install 4G towers on our side,” Stanzin said.
He also shared images of the towers through a tweet.
“After completing the bridge over Pangong Tso lake, China has installed three mobile towers near China’s Hot Spring very close to the Indian territory. Isn’t it a concern? We don’t even have 4G facilities in human habitation villages,” Stanzin wrote on twitter.
The Councillor pointed out that the towers could be used to observe our territory and communicate details. He also claimed that China is “doing rapid infrastructure development” on its side of the border.
Urging the Government to equally counter attack China’s move in terms of development, Stanzin alleged that in maximum border villages, India does not have 4G internet service.
“In my constituency, out of 12, 11 villages do not have 4G internet facilities. We should take it seriously. We are lagging in the communication facility. We only have one mobile tower whereas on their side, they have nine towers,” he said.
In the summer of 2020, the Ladakh border standoff between India and China erupted following a clash of the Armies in the Pangong area. The situation escalated after the Galwan Valley clashes in June the same year.
Both the countries have held 15 rounds of talks for disengagement to defuse the tensions in the area. As a result, India and China have disengaged their troops in the Gogra Heights area of Eastern Ladakh. The troops of the two sides also disengaged in Pangong Lake area in February last year.
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