Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said on Saturday that the Indian Air Force is considering taking over three airstrips in Uttarakhand to strengthen its operational capabilities there.
Among the three airstrips are Pithoragarh in the Kumaon Hills and Dharasu and Gauchar in the Garhwal Hills.
The state government requested that the Armed Forces take over the property after building the landing strips there, according to General Anil Chauhan. In addition to providing strategic use of the airstrips, he added that it would also improve the air connectivity of locals in the area.
According to the CDS, the Indian Air Force has accepted the state government’s proposal to take over these three landing grounds.
General Chauhan listed a number of measures the armed forces have taken to assist people in border states, including the purchase of local products such as milk and fresh food from cooperative societies in states such as Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, and the union territory of Ladakh.
This was not applicable to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh until now. The Army will now purchase local produce from the cooperatives in these two states and assist them.
The CDS stated that the forces have also expanded the scope of Operation Sadbhavna to the border states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from last year, and this will help them to benefit from these programs.
During Operation Sadbhavna, the Indian Army conducts welfare activities in Ladakh, such as goodwill schools, infrastructure development projects, and educational tours.
