Under Project Himank, a team of the Army's Border Road Task Force is working in minus 4 degree temperatures to complete the task. (file)
Five years of tension with China over the Lime of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have now begun to subside, but during this period India has almost completed several important projects in the remote area.
One of these is the country's highest airfield, currently taking shape at 13,700 feet (4175.76 m) at Mud village in Nyoma subdivision of eastern Ladakh. Its 3 km long runway is 95% complete. As soon as the ATC work is completed, the airfield will be ready for the army next year.
Under Project Himank, a team of the Army's Border Road Task Force is working in minus 4 degree temperatures to complete the task. According to BRTF Commander Colonel Ponung Doming, this will be the highest airport in the country, just 35 km from LAC and 200 km from Ladakh.
The foundation stone of the airfield was laid in September last year. (file)
Heavy weapons will reach the border in 2 hours not 2 days Colonel Doming, who is leading the task force in Hanle at 15300 feet, said the foundation stone of this airfield was laid in September last year. It is being built by KCC Buildcon Pvt. 218 crore is the cost. At present 250 laborers are also working in minus 4 degrees.
From next year, all types of defense aircraft will be able to land here easily. Currently, if heavy defense equipment is to be transported to the LAC, it first has to be brought to the KBR airport in Leh, 200 km away. Then from there it is brought to LAC by road. But, after the construction of the new airfield, heavy weapons will reach the LAC in just two hours.
Here in winter the temperature drops to minus 35 degrees, but we still don't stop working. Colonel Doming is the first woman army officer from Arunachal to be promoted to the rank of Colonel.
Under Jeevan Project, deserted villages are being repopulated… Mud village was selected for this project so that the derelict areas near the LAC can be revitalized. The government has named it the Lively Village Programme. Shops have started coming up near the airstrip. The villagers hope that fresh vegetables will start getting from Chandigarh this winter.
4411 m in China. The world's highest airfield is built above Doocheng Yading Airport, built in southern China's Sichuan province, is the tallest in the world. It is at a height of 4411 meters above sea level. Currently, there are 10 highest airports in the world, 8 of them are in China. Among them 7 airports are located above 4 thousand meters. While two airfields are in Bolivia.
related to East Ladakh…
In eastern Ladakh, Indo-Chinese forces pull back, patrol on separate days to avoid Galwan-like clashes
The current picture of de-escalation has not yet emerged. This image is after the 2020 Galwan clash, when Chinese tanks withdrew from the LAC as per the agreement. – File photo
The armies of India and China have started to withdraw from the eastern Ladakh border from Friday, October 25. According to news agency ANI, both armies have removed their makeshift tents and sheds at Demchok and Depsang points in eastern Ladakh. Vehicles and military equipment are also being taken back.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
