Last year's Doklam face-off between India and China has prompted authorities to give a big push to enhance road connectivity along the LAC that can aid swift troop mobilisation in case of a prolonged face-off among troops.
Kibithu (Line of Actual Control): China has enhanced its defences over the last few years with a newly constructed three-storied army camp at Tatu across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) opposite Kibithu, one of the "sensitive" spots in Arunachal Pradesh. It had attempted to build a road to a strategic hill point twice before the Doklam face-off, but failed due to landslides.
In contrast, the India side has been a picture of crumbling roads marking the dismal state of infrastructure. Poor connectivity has not only been hampering mobilisation of troops to the LAC but has also left the sparsely populated villages along the frontier devoid of basic facilities like hospitals and schools. While the region lacks mobile connectivity, the India side along the LAC makes do with Chinese networks.
"We have no employment opportunities here. With no roads, travelling is a problem. With no mobile connectivity, we are cut off from the rest of the world. If China can do it, why can't our government?" wonders Kunchok Tserng Meyor, the sarpanch of Kaho, the last village on the border.
All this is set to change. Last year's Doklam face-off between India and China has prompted authorities to give a big push to enhance road connectivity along the LAC that can aid swift troop mobilisation in case of a prolonged face-off among troops.
While China's attempts to build a road to a strategic hill point failed twice due to landslides, roads on the Indian side leading to the LAC are seeing a quick facelift. Along with more bridges, inter-valley connectivity, too, is being planned; currently, with no inter-valley connectivity in this sector, mobilisation of troops has been slow.
DNA travelled to Kibuthu, one such sector in Arunachal Pradesh neighbouring China. Kibithu is categorised as a "sensitive" zone, making it high-value asset. A sensitive spot is different from a disputed one. In the case of disputed spots, the difference is acknowledged by both sides, but in case of sensitive spots, both parties claim the area, not acknowledging it as a dispute.
While the Chinese have built the new camp, referred to as the 'New Tatu Camp,' their deployment has remained limited to around 100 troops; with good road connectivity, mobilisation has been easier for them.
On the other hand, numbers on the Indian side are much higher, with close to 800 troops deployed in the forward area at any given time.
"They have been scaling up their defences by building new structures and trenches over the last few years, but there was no change in their activities during the Doklam face-off. Even the deployment went up by 20-25 troops," says an army officer.
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