NEW DELHI: Dubbing the increasing number of
natural disasters
like landslides in
border states
along the frontier with China as “a
national security
issue”,
defence minister
Rajnath Singh on Friday said India will seek cooperation from
friendly countries
to rule out the role of any “adversary” in them.
“Climate change is not just a weather-related phenomenon, but a serious issue related to national security,” Singh said, while inaugurating 29 bridges and six roads constructed by the BRO across seven states and UTs at a cost of Rs 670 crore.
“The defence ministry is taking it very seriously and will seek help from friendly countries to study the matter and rule out involvement of our adversaries on this issue,” he said, at the ceremony organised at Joshimath-Malari road in Uttarakhand.
While he did not directly name or blame China for triggering landslides, he said certain border states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and UTs like Ladakh “have noticed an increase in the number of natural disasters” in recent years. “The Himalayas extend to other states as well. But such incidents are confined to certain states only and we cannot ignore that,” he added.
India is continuing with its effort to reduce the huge
border infrastructure
differential with China.
English (US) ·