Union defence minister A K Antony has agreed to strengthen the basic defence infrastructure in the border areas of Uttarakhand.
An assurance to this effect was given by Antony to chief minister Vijay Bahuguna during a meeting at New Delhi late last evening, an official statement said on Friday.
Bahuguna also urged the defence minister to set up airfields and helipads in the border areas, the statement said. With China increasing its military presence in Tibet, the Indian Army is also trying to show its presence in Uttarakhand and construct 13 new helipads.
For this purpose, the Army has already asked the state government to provide 23,216 acres of land in the hill state for different defence projects keeping in view its strategic importance. State chief secretary Subash Kumar had, in February, held a meeting with top Army officials at the secretariat in this regard.
The Army would construct 13 new helipads in the state. Besides, the Army would also take up new projects in areas like Almora, Banbasa, Dharchula, Dehradun, Dharasu, Charmagaurd, Chhiyalekh, Gunji, Ghatoli, Ghansali, Auli, Haldwani, Pantnagar and Pithoragarh. Significantly, the Army wants to strengthen itself in Uttarakhand at a time when China has already increased its presence in Tibet fearing turmoil by supporters of Dalai Lama.