Migration making villages vulnerable: Tarun Vijay

Dehradun, July 29

Close to the heels of Chinese ‘transgression’ from the border along Uttarakhand, BJP leader Tarun Vijay has said large-scale migration of people from border villages had left the areas vulnerable to the “enemy”.

The former Rajya Sabha MP said people had been migrating from border villages in search for better career opportunities. He underlined the need to strengthen infrastructure and basic health and education facilities to rein in the trend. Vijay termed the large-scale migration of people as a major factor behind the threat of Chinese incursions.

“Deserted border villages in the mountains devoid of human activity are an open invitation to the enemy. There is an urgent need to strengthen infrastructure in border areas, especially on the Himalayan side, as the population is fast leaving their age-old habitats for better career prospects,” he said.

He said Barahoti in Chamoli and Gunji and Milam glaciers in Pithoragarh district had been rendered vulnerable to the enemy due to migration.

The former MP said he had trekked 105 km from Munsiyari to Milam and the whole stretch looked deserted.

“The entire region looks deserted and only a few families have been left in this stretch known all over the world for musk deer and Bhojpatra jungles. As a result, the poachers are having a field day,” he said.

While China has built a metalled road up to Milam, Indian soldiers have to walk three days to reach there, carrying their weapons, luggage and sundry items, the ex-MP said.

“It is urgently needed that such sensitive border areas are given the best of infrastructure and medical and communications systems so that people do not leave the areas barren and devoid of any human activity,” Vijay said.

As for the recent Chinese activity in Bara Hoti area of Chamoli, he said everyone should wait for the Home Ministry’s report. The Centre had a well-established mechanism to deal with such incidents, he added.—PTI