Uttarakhand

• 09 Mar 2024

India to Deploy Soldiers Along Border with China in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

The Indian government has freed a strong contingent of 10,000 soldiers to strengthen its disputed border with China.

Key Points

• It is supposed to be deployed to guard the strategically important 532 km (330.57 miles) stretch of the Indo-China border in the northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
• The unprecedented deployment of troops highlights both the region’s strategic importance and its growing sensitivity in the eyes of India’s leaders.
• The area has seen huge infrastructure investment and development in the last decade.
  • In 2021, India repositioned an additional 50,000 soldiers to patrol its border along with China, after a deadly border clash in 2020 that left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead at the Galwan area of Eastern Ladakh.

Uttarakhand Government to Constitute Committee to Prepare for Char Dham Yatra

Why in News?

Recently, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to constitute a committee to prepare for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra.

Key Points

• The CM also instructed officials:
  • CCTV should be installed on Char Dham routes and sensitive areas.
  • Live monitoring of all the Char Dhams should be done from the government level and the disaster control room should be operated properly.
  • To ensure a plastic- free Char Dham yatra.
  • 24-hour power supply should be ensured in all the Dhams. Streetlights should also be installed on routes.
  • Along with the deployment of medical and requisite staff, arrangements should be made for life-saving medicines, equipment, portable oxygen cylinders and ambulances/air ambulances in temporary medical centres on the yatra routes.
  • To prevent diseases in horses and mules, veterinarians should be deployed on the routes.
  • Arrangements should be made for deployment of security forces.
  • Police officers of the rank of additional superintendent and above should be appointed to manage traffic during the pilgrimage period.

Note:

• Yamunotri Dham:
  • Location: Uttarkashi district.
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Yamuna.
  • River Yamuna is the second-most sacred river in India after River Ganga.
• Gangotri Dham:
  • Location: Uttarkashi district.
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Ganga.
  • Considered the most sacred of all Indian rivers.
• Kedarnath Dham:
  • Location: Rudraprayag district.
  • Dedicated to: Lord Shiva.
  • Situated on the bank of the Mandakini River.
  • One of the 12 Jyotirlingas (divine representations of Lord Shiva) in India.
• Badrinath Dham:
  • Location: Chamoli district.
  • Home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple.
  • Dedicated to: Lord Vishnu.
  • One of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites.