Annual Report - Ministry of Home Affairs

the Ministry of Defence in March, 2009 and
September, 2009, respectively.
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS OF OP-
ERATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN
BORDER AREAS ALONG INDIA-
CHINA BORDER
3.44 To redress the situation arising out of
poor road connectivity which has hampered the
operational capability of the Border Guarding
Forces deployed along the India-China border,
the Government had decided to undertake
phase-wise construction of 27 road links
totaling 804 km. in the border areas along the
India-China border in the States of Jammu &
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh at an estimated
cost of Rs.1,937 crore.
Preparation of Detailed Project
Reports
3.45 �e work of construction of 27 ITBP
roads has been assigned to Border Roads
Organization (BRO) (15 roads), Central Public
Works Department (CPWD) (8 roads), National
Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) (2
roads) and Himachal Pradesh Public Works
Department (HP PWD) (2 roads). Detailed
Project Reports (DPRs)/cost estimates in respect
of 26 roads, submitted by the executing agencies,
have been approved by the High Level
Empowered Committee (HLEC) at a total cost
of Rs.1,746 crore.
Status of forest/wildlife clearance
3.46 Since large parts of the approved roads
would pass through forest areas, it is mandatory
to obtain the forest clearance under the Forest
Conservation Act, 1980 before commencing the
construction. In addition, diversion of land for
40
non-forestry purposes falling under Wildlife
Sanctuaries/National Parks requires prior
permission of National Board for Wildlife
(NBWL) as well as the Supreme Court before
seeking forest clearance.
3.47 Forest and wildlife clearance of 24 roads
has been obtained and construction work has
started in respect of 11 roads. 60 km. of
formation and 9 km. of surfacing works have
been completed so far. Construction of
remaining roads will commence from the next
working season i.e. April/May, 2010.
MANAGEMENT OF INDO-NEPAL
BORDER
3.48 In order to check anti-national activities
on the India-Nepal border which is the open
and porous border and to improve the security
along this border, 27 battalions of Sashastra
Seema Bal (SSB) have been deployed as the
Border Guarding Force (BGF) on this border.
Out of a total 450 Border Out Posts (BOPs)
sanctioned, 449 BOPs have been established on
Indo-Nepal border so far.
3.49 Bilateral mechanisms in the form of
Home Secretary-level talks and Joint Working
Group at the level of Joint Secretaries exist
between the two countries. In addition, there is
a mechanism of Border District Coordination
Committee Meetings between the district
officials of the two countries. �ese mechanisms
serve as platforms for discussing issues of
mutual concern like containing cross-border
crimes, smuggling, situation arising out of
terrorist activities, etc. at national and
regional/local levels respectively.
3.50 �e last Home Secretary Level Talks
Chapter-III