Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday voiced concern over the increasing frequency of natural disasters in certain border states and union territories, suggesting the need for a thorough study to determine if India's adversaries could be linked to the rise.
Inaugurating a bridge and 34 other infrastructure projects worth Rs 670 crore in the Dhak village near Joshimath in Uttarakhand, Singh highlighted that climate change is now intertwined with national security.
While addressing the gathering, Singh pointed out that states and union territories such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh have witnessed a surge in natural disasters in the recent past. While acknowledging the connection to climate change, Singh urged for an investigation into whether adversarial forces might also be playing a role, without explicitly naming any specific country.
The Defence Minister stressed that the increasing frequency of natural disasters in these regions has garnered serious attention from the defence ministry. He emphasised the importance of conducting a comprehensive study, suggesting that assistance from friendly countries may be sought if necessary.
Singh highlighted the Modi government's distinct approach to border area infrastructure development, emphasizing that these areas are not considered buffer zones but integral parts of the country. He expressed the government's commitment to creating world-class infrastructure in border areas.
Commending the Border Roads Organisation's (BRO) role in recent years, Singh praised the women personnel of the BRO for their remarkable efforts in the successful rescue of trapped workers at the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district. The women personnel prepared a 1.5 km track up a hill slope in challenging terrain for the rescue operation.
The inaugurated projects, valued at Rs 670 crore, include 29 bridges and six roads spread across Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Among the projects, 10 bridges are in Jammu and Kashmir, eight in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Ladakh, three in Uttarakhand, one in Himachal Pradesh, and one in Mizoram. Additionally, three roads are in Ladakh, two in Sikkim, and one in Jammu and Kashmir.
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