Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 12: In view of concerns expressed by the Defence Ministry over delay in various road construction projects along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, which were part of infrastructure development on the borders, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has invoked Section 2 of Forests Conservation Act to allow use of forest land by the BRO for construction/widening of the roads within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the LAC.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a large number of projects pertaining to construction of roads right up to the LAC along China border, mostly in five States which have LAC with China including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, were pending for long time due to delay in forest clearance as one of the reasons as the roads mostly fall in the forest zones.
The Defence Ministry had been pushing for clearance to the projects, which had to be constructed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO), as the troops were suffering for want of infrastructure along the LAC facing difficulties in shifting men and material up to the LAC with China.
Sources said taking into account the problems faced by the troops and issue taken up repeatedly by the Defence Ministry, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has invoked Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and given general approval for construction/ widening of roads entrusted to BRO in the area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the LAC and National Highway/ State Highways/ other road projects subject to certain conditions.
This, according to sources, will help the BRO in expedite construction/widening of road projects of strategic importance especially in five States, which have LAC with China and were in dire need of road constructions for hassle free movement of troops right up to their posts and other strategic locations.
Sources pointed out that out of a total of 198 BRO projects pending due to obstacles including the forest clearance, the highest number of 78 falls in Jammu and Kashmir followed by 48 in Arunachal Pradesh, 17 in Uttarakhand, 12 in Sikkim and four in Himachal Pradesh.
“All these five States have un-demarcated LAC with China. While China has raised infrastructure right up to the last posts of its Army including construction of rail and road networks, India was lagging behind in terms of infrastructure development very badly,” sources said but expressed hope that with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests giving general clearance for construction of road projects up to 100 kilometers aerial distance from the LAC, the BRO would expedite the construction works as the Centre Government has already assured that funds for strategic projects will not be a problem.
Sources said all five States, which have LAC with China, have already constituted Empowered Committees headed by the respective Chief Secretaries with Secretaries of concerned departments as members to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest/ wildlife clearance, allotment of quarries etc and resolve issues with the BRO for construction of road projects right up the LAC.
Sources said apart from Forest/Wild Life clearance the other major factors behind delay in strategic road clearance projects also included hard rock stretches, limited working season, difficulties in availability of construction material and delay in land acquisition.
Among other measures, the Government has allowed outsourcing to augment the capacity of BRO, given approval for ‘Long Term Roll On Work Plan’ and ‘Long Term Equipment Plan’ and enhanced financial and administrative powers given to the Executives of the BRO.
The Government was confident that the new measures it has put in place especially the general forest clearance up to 100 kilometers aerial distance from the LAC would give boost to construction activity along the LAC with China in five States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
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