Need border tourism in Ladakh to solve remoteness and beat China, says top cops
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New Delhi: India's top officials said the country's border defense strategy should be given a new meaning and purpose with an economic incentive for the future. Expeditions on the pass were famous in the 1930s and they can be restarted to attract trekking and hiking.
They suggested that India needs a strategy specific to the area, such as border tourism. It can be promoted aggressively in the Turtuk or Siachen sector, and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) or Depsang plains, on the Karakoram pass in the DBO. "It is an ancient connection to India's silk route history and opening the area to domestic tourists will solve the remoteness."
They observed that China has a strong economic and strategic need in the Ladakh sector, which is why it is aggressively building its army to dominate the unfenced locations on the Indian side to lay claim to more areas. In a paper circulated at a high-level meeting, IPS officers said India's limitation to be a part of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) or the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is a factor. The paper was submitted to DGPs/IGPs.
The paper pointed out that the monetisation potential of the region is missing in the country's purpose and so the constant loss of area since 1962 in the form of buffer zones being contested by the adversary keeps the security forces on the back foot.
"For inviting a large number of tourists, nomadic festivals at all India level should be celebrated at Ladakh's Demchok, Koyul, Dungti, and Kakjung villages which are located on the banks of Indus river and very close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Chota Kailash at Demchok can be opened to tourists to pay obeisance and prayers for the mount Kailash and promote religious tourism for the devout Hindus who cannot go to Mansarovar yatras," said the officials.
They further stated that the civilian population near the border is the country's asset and their interests in terms of reclaiming lost pasture lands should be protected. "Manual patrolling in the areas at regular periods needs to be replaced by more sophisticated technologies like camera surveillance and comprehensive integrated border management system."
"The surveillance systems need to be tested for harsh weather conditions, strong power, and storage backup at subzero temperatures. Premier research institutes like IISc, IITs, and postgraduate and Ph.D. students can be funded with research by the government to find solutions on the suitable material for sub-zero climatic conditions that can be used in surveillance mechanisms," suggested the paper.
The suggestion comes after a report stating India has lost control over 26 out of 65 patrolling points in the border and China is using a strategy to grab land inch by inch. It was also noted that a senior security official said it is worth giving up 400 metres if four years of peace can be bought from China's government.