Citing build-up on Chinese side, govt seeks SC nod to widen roads

Centre informs Supreme Court that the Army needs to be ready for any exigency and cannot be caught napping like it happened in 1962

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that China has made a huge build-up in the Tibet region and the Army needs broader roads to move heavy vehicles up to the India-China border to avoid a 1962 war-like situation.

It informed the top court that feeder roads like from Rishikesh to Gangotri, Rishikesh to Mana, and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh which lead up to the northern border with China connect Army camps at Dehradun and Meerut which have bases of missile launchers and heavy artillery.

The Centre said that the Army needs to be ready for any exigency and cannot be caught napping like it happened in 1962.

The top court observed that all development has to be sustainable and balanced with the defense of the nation and protection of the environment and the court cannot second guess the defence needs of the country.

A bench of justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and Vikram Nath was told by Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, that the Army needs better roads due to the recent developments at the India-China borders.

There has been tremendous build-up on the other side of the border. They (China) have ramped up infrastructure and built airstrips, helipads, roads, railway line networks which proceed on the assumption that they are going to be there permanently, he said.