News Brief
Spangmik-Kasket road. (@sahuajeet/Commissioner Secretary to Administration of Ladakh)
The construction of a 38-kilometre-long road between Spangmik and Kasket on the south bank of the Pangong Lake is nearing completion, public broadcaster Prasar Bharti reported on Sunday (7 November).
The road is being built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and Rs 11.40 crore has been spent on the project so far.
In August this year, the Administration of Ladakh removed the Inner Line Permit requirement for Indian citizens to visit the protected areas in the Union Territory. The move, experts say, has made access easier for domestic tourists to areas close to the LAC.
The standoff was sparked by China's occupation of territory between Finger 4 and Finger 8 on the north bank, an area that was patrolled by both sides. By deploying forces on Finger 4, China had effectively denied India access to the area. While India claims that the LAC lies near Finger 8, China claims it passes through Finger 2. India controls the area west of Finger 4, and China has a base east of Finger 8.