In a recent development announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), 10% of the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) funds will be dedicated to enhancing infrastructure along the China border.
Allocation and Use of Funds
A total of Rs. 784 crore has been allocated from the BADP for projects in bordering States/Union Territories (UTs) sandwiched between India and China. These include Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand. The distribution of these funds to the bordering areas depends on various factors such as the length of the international border and the population residing there.
The MHA envisages granting priority to projects aimed at developing strategically important villages and towns in border areas. Projects under consideration involve constructing roads, bridges, primary schools, health infrastructure, and playfields, plus setting up irrigation works within a 10 km radius of the border.
Security Forces Monitoring and Participation
Security agencies such as the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Sashastra Seema Bal, and the Assam Rifles are deployed along different international borders India shares with neighboring countries. These forces will contribute crucial input on project identification and implementation in their respective border regions. Their role extends to conducting social audits and supervising the progress of the projects.
The Importance and Impact of these Infrastructural Enhancements
This initiative by the government is an integral step towards bridging socio-economic gaps in border areas. It aims at supplementing State Plan Funds to uplift infrastructure and improve the security environment in border regions. The program would also encourage people to continue living in border areas by fostering a positive environment of governmental care, thus ensuring safe and secure borders. It would also foster better integration between these areas and the hinterland.
The recent face-off between India and China underscores the strategic and vital role that infrastructure plays in managing border regions. Improved infrastructure would allow faster mobility for troops and equipment, which is crucial for border security. Infrastructure improvements are ongoing along the Line of Actual Control with China, including the strategic tunnel construction in Uttarakhand as part of the Char Dham Pariyojana.
Border Area Development Programme (BADP)
The MHA initiated the BADP in 1986-87 as a comprehensive solution to Border Management. This programme was first implemented in the border areas of the western region during the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90). It aimed at balanced border area development, infrastructure elevation, and promoting a sense of security among the border population. The programme covers multiple states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and others.
Need for Continued Infrastructure Development
Given the historical territorial claims made by China on various parts of India, infrastructural development is crucial in maintaining India’s territorial integrity along its borders. Strengthening the Border Road Organisations (BRO) is necessary for the unhindered progress of these projects. In light of the escalating tensions at the India-China border since the Doklam stand-off in 2017, the execution of development projects is essential for making the border safe and secure for all.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024