Issues raised with Kinnaur admn, police

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 13

The Army has sought complete check on use of banned ‘thuraya’ satellite phones by tourists in areas close to the Chinese border in Kinnaur district and starting of helli taxi services for the convenience of both civilians and Army men in the tribal district which shares a 140-km border with China.The military authorities have asked the police authorities to check use of ‘thuraya’ satellite phones at the Chaura and Apka check posts. The use of these phones is banned, especially in the border areas in Kinnaur district which shares a 140-km boundary with China. The other tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti also shares 80-km boundary with China.The stepped up activity by China along the border on its territory has put India on the alert and efforts are on to strengthen the infrastructure and communication on our side of the border. The military authorities are keen that the state government starts helli-taxi services between Kinnaur and Chandigarh as it prove to be beneficial to both civilians and Army personnel.The Army has raised several military issues with the Kinnaur district administration and the police authorities at a civil-military conference held recently. The Army has also requested for setting up an Army check post at Dubling in Kinnuar. Besides the local police and the Army, the ITBP mans porous border between the two countries in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.“Though no tourist has been found to be in possession of the ‘thuraya’ phones during checking by the police at the two posts of Cahura and Apka in the inner line areas close to Chinese border, the Army authorities have detected their presence through interception and use of the phone in the border areas,” said Gopal Chand, Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur. He added that directions had been issued to the police to undertake proper checking so that there was no use of satellite phones in the border areas.As a precautionary safety measure against helicopter accidents, the Army has also requested the Kinnaur administration to properly get the high tension wires and apple trolleys used locally marked properly so that no problem is faced by them during flights.The issue of setting up of the Army ammunition depot at Powari in Kinnaur remains undecided owing to resistance by the Lippa Gram Panchayat. The issue has been hanging fire for several years now. Though the issue is pending before the court the district administration too has been trying at its own level to convince the villagers to agree to let the depot come up in national interest.However, several other hitches like the provisions of the Forest Rights Act and Forest Conservation Act are also proving to be major impediments. The case sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest for diversion of forest land for defence use has still not been accorded approval.Key demands

• Complete check on the use of satellite phones in areas close to the Chinese border
• Setting up of an Army check post at Dubling in Kinnaur
• Proper marking of high-tension wires and apple trolleys to avoid helicopter accidents
• Issue of starting of helli taxis also raised