30 Nov, 2009, Srinagar, India

The Chinese Army now objects to the construction of a road in India at Demchok, Ladakh that has stopped the work at the site. This road had been constructed under the Centre’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). It is in last inhabited area at the Line of Actual Control (LOAC). The motive behind constructing the road was the area’s connectivity that could improve the opportunities of employment in area.

The people working at construction site got threatening from a group of people across the border that created fear among the workers for their lives and thus they discontinued the work at site.

Omar Abdullah, the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister also confirmed that the road construction has been brought to a halt. He has even informed the Centre for the same. At the same time Omar Abdullah’s father and Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference (NC) chief have said that the work has stopped because of the bad weather conditions. Ajit Kumar Sahu, Leh Deputy Commissioner visited the construction area to make a report that he has to submit to government.

Chering Dorjay, the Chief Executive Councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council says that the Chinese have also constructed the road but India never objected to it. There is a nullah which separates the LOAC and the proximity to Chinese land is so much that we can communicate to them. Earlier also China was accused of the incursions in the Indian territory and carrying out some construction work along Sino-India border that was not in India’s knowledge that even included a dam at the Brahmaputra River.