The Uttarakhand State Wildlife Advisory Board has recently greenlit proposals permitting the transfer of forest land within Gangotri National Park for road development purposes. This move has sparked attention in light of the ongoing territorial dispute between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) situated in Ladakh.
A Glimpse into the Proposals
As per the proposals, it will necessitate the transfer of approximately 73.36 hectares of forest land from three distinctive areas of Gangotri National Park. These plots of land are needed for the construction of separate roads which will extend up to 35.66 kilometers in total. The area of the park intended for the transfer is near the international border with China.
It’s worth noting that these roads play a vital role in advancing national security. Once completed, they will significantly facilitate the movement of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, making monitoring of the China border considerably simpler. The proposals concerning this land transfer are now set to be submitted for review by the National Wildlife Board.
Insights into Gangotri National Park
Founded in 1989, Gangotri National Park sits in the upper catchment area of the Bhagirathi River, located in Uttarkashi, Uttrakhand. The park houses the Gaumukh of Gangotri glacier, known as the origin point of the holy Ganga river. Additionally, the geographical layout of Gangotri National Park forms a continuous naturist belt linking the Govind National Park and Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.
The park is known for its lush and dense coniferous forests of temperate nature, populated predominantly with Chirpine, Deodar, Fir, Spruce, Oak, and Rhododendron trees. It’s also home to various endangered and rare species like the Himalayan Monal, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, and Blue Sheep.
About the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is one of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), brought into existence on 24th October 1962. The force oversees guarding duties spanning the lengthy stretch from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. This translates to 3488 kilometers of the Sino-India Border.
A significant portion of the ITBP’s taskforce consists of professionally trained mountaineers and skiers, given its role as a specialized mountain force. Moreover, with a reputation as the first responders in the face of natural disasters, ITBP consistently carries out relief and rescue operations across the country. It operates from its headquarters based in New Delhi.
In a crucial move during November 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed the merging of Assam Rifles with the ITBP.
