Indo-China Border Infrastructure Spending Triples, Surging From Rs 4,000 Crore In 2014 To Rs 12,340 Crore In Nine Years Under Modi Govt

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (10 November) announced plans to establish road, electricity, and communication links to 168 unconnected villages along the China border within the next year.

He emphasised the security risks posed by the depopulation of these border villages due to migration, and assured that the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) would address this by providing necessary facilities and infrastructure.

He stressed the importance of developing these border areas for the nation's safety.

Shah was speaking during the 62nd Raising Day parade of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Dehradun. The ITBP is the primary force stationed along the 3,488 km stretch of India's border with China.

Shah mentioned that the government had recently approved seven new ITBP battalions, with four of them set to be deployed soon.

He noted that the establishment of these seven battalions and a sector headquarters would incur a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore.

He conveyed the Central Government's intention to prioritise border villages, ensuring they are first in line not only in geographical terms but also in receiving various facilities.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the concept of vibrant village programme to provide best facilities to people living in the border villages so that their population is not just sustained but also increased,” Shah said, The Hindu reported.

He said that the average expenditure on the development of Indo-China border facilities before 2014 was Rs 4,000 crore per year, but in the last 9 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi this has been increased to Rs 12,340 crore per year. 

Since April-May 2020, India and China have been involved in a standoff at various locations in eastern Ladakh. Twenty soldiers were killed in violent clashes with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on 15 June 2020.

Shah said whenever he heard of any news from India-China border, he was assured that not even an inch of land would be occupied as the ITBP was posted there.

He said a budgetary allocation of Rs 4,800 crore had been made to create adequate infrastructural, health and educational facilities in 662 border villages of 19 districts under the vibrant village programme.

He said that the ITBP could also be made the nodal agency for carrying out development work in these border villages.