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Assures of all possible help to Army and other equivalent forces
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Fencing of water storage tanks in Shimla to be done
The State Government would provide all possible assistance to the armed forces and their requests for strengthening rail, road and air infrastructure on border areas of the State which would be considered on priority in the larger interest of the Country, stated the Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh after he flagged-off the Northern Frontier Mountaineering Expedition of Indian Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force, to Mount Leo Pargial (22,222) feet at ITBP Campus in Tara Devi today.
“If army wants to have an Airfield near Indo-Tibet border somewhere in Spiti valley, we will provide them all possible assistance”, he said adding that earlier also, our Government had raised this issue with the Union Government time and again and also that of Bilaspur-Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Leh rail line”. As of now, General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) under Border Roads Organization (BRO) was maintaining the Border roads but as we have hilly terrain it becomes difficult to undertake development in comparison to adjoining China border side, where there were vast wide plateaus, said Shri Virbhadra Singh.
“In the larger interest of the Nation, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and other parallel agencies deployed in the State on international and inter-state borders”, said Chief Minister.
Lauding the efforts of the Jawans of ITBP, the Chief Minister said that he was happy to learn that the team under the expertise and leadership of Shri Sidharth Kumar and his deputy Shri Anoop Kumar Negi also comprises of three others viz: Shri Joth Singh, Shri Pradeep Negi and Shri Devendar Singh who had scaled the Mount Everest, the highest peak of the world (8848 meters). He congratulated the team and said that besides the adventure and the challenge, it would also help the ITBP Jawans to assess their mettle and determination.
Earlier, Inspector General ITBP, Shri H.S. Goraya welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister. He also detailed about the various activities of ITBP and its contribution in the State in terms of development.
Chief Secretary Shri V.C. Pharka was also present on the occasions amongst other senior officers and jawans of ITBP.
Speaking with the media on sidelines of the function, Chief Minister said that lifting of curfew in Kashmir, was a good gesture on the part of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and an effort towards restoration of ‘Aman, Shanti and Ekta’, which I hope would soon prevail back in the valley.
He said that fencing would be done on all sides of ‘water storage tanks’ in the town and the water tanks and the fencing would be locked from outside to prevent any such activity as was in Yug’s episode. He said that efforts would be to install CCTV cameras at such places so that such incidents as was in Yug’s case, were not repeated. It was criminal negligence on the part of Municipal Corporation, Shimla, he said.