China objects to power lines in Kinnaur, Himachal awaits details

CHANDIGARH: A reported Chinese Army objection to installation of electricity cables near the border outpost of Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh has put the government in a state of uncertainty on whether to proceed or not as it awaited assistance from Indian Army and paramilitary forces.
The lines were being laid between Namgya village to Lukma border post, nearly 30km from the Shipki la pass.
"There were reports of objection by the Chinese Army. We have reported the matter to Army and ITBP to verify the facts. We can only say that the region where the installation is going on belongs to India," D D Sharma, deputy commissioner, Kinnaur, told TOI on phone.
It was not clear if the lines were being laid by the Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (HPPTCL) or Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL).
A senior IAS officer in the civil secretariat said that power cables were being installed for ITBP personnel.
Namgya village is also the last point fixed for trading on the Indian side, where traders carry items like coffee, tea, barley, rice, flour, dry fruit and fresh vegetables to China.
According to Kinnaur district administration, trade through Shipki la pass had touched Rs 5.33 crore turnover.
Though as many as 127 applicants are awaiting approval for trade this year, the Indian government is still mulling over their demands due to safety issues, sources said.
An Army official, maintaining anonymity, said that an alert has been in place since April this year and Western Command in Chandigarh is keeping a close tab on developments on incursions along the border of Himachal Pradesh with China.
HP's two districts -- Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti -- have their borders with China, spread over 216 km. These borders are mostly manned by ITBP.