Chinese troops damaged stone wall in Tawang: Govt

Chinese troops had in July this year damaged a 200 feet stone wall which was built 250 meters inside the Indian territory in Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh, government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

"As per the established mechanism with China, a strong protest was lodged with the Chinese side on the action of the Chinese People's Liberation Army patrol in a flag meeting (between the two sides)," Defence Minister A K Antony said.

In reply to a question, the minister said the attempt by the PLA to raze the wall was prevented by the Indian army.

"In July, a PLA patrol attempted to cross a 200 feet wall of loose stones constructed 250 metres on our side of the Line of Actual Control in Yangtse area of Tawang, which was prevented by our troops," Antony said.

The stone wall was partially damaged by the PLA patrol, but it has been reconstructed, he said.

The 200-metre long wall was constructed by Indian army for protection against the icy winds during the patrol duties.

"There is no commonly delineated LAC between India and

China and there are few areas along the border where both have different perception of the LAC," Antony said, adding that, both sides patrol upto their respective perceptions of LAC due to its perceived differences in alignment.

Replying to a question on infrastructure development along the Chinese border, he said, 10 railway and 73 roads projects have been identified in North and North Eastern regions.

"Army has identified 73 roads as critically and strategically important. In addition to this, 10 railway projects have also been identified for development in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh," Antony said.

Government is seized of the security imperatives of the country as well as the need for developing requisite infrastructure in the border areas, Antony said.

"Necessary steps have been initiated for ensuring that national security concerns are adequately addressed through development of infrastructure, including rail, roads and forward air fields as well as operational capabilities of armed forces to secure desired national security objectives," Antony said.

In reply to a query on construction of a tunnel on Zozila pass, he said the final decision on it would depend on the outcome of a feasibility study ordered in this regard, which is likely to be completed by March 2012.

"The contract for feasibility study was awarded to IBilt Technology, in April 2009. Survey is under progress for feasibility of tunnel at Zozila pass and other locations along this axis to Leh and is in advanced stages. It is likely to be completed by March 2012," he said.