PAC has decided to review the construction of border roads on the actual control line.
New Delhi:
In the wake of the recent violent confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh, the PAC of Parliament decided on Friday to review the construction of border roads on the real control line (LAC) and the purchase of clothing for high altitude for the armed forces. , and may call the Secretary of Defense and other senior officials to be informed.
Friday, the meeting of the 22 members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by the head of Congress at Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury brought together 17 of the 20 members. Its two seats are vacant.
PAC members, in whom the BJP enjoys a majority and is led by party leader Bhupender Yadav, thwarted Mr. Chowdhury’s attempt to select the PM Cares Fund for review, claiming that its amount had not been approved by Parliament and therefore cannot be assumed by the Committee.
BJD and JD (U) MPs also supported the BJP on the issue.
Meanwhile, the PAC has decided to examine various subjects, paying particular attention to the CAG report number 5 of 2017, a performance audit of the Sino-Indian border roads and to the CAG report number 13 of 2019 which relates to the ‘supply and supply of high altitude clothing, equipment, ration and accommodation for soldiers.
According to documents distributed to committee members on Friday, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on border roads is the main subject for committee review during the year.
The CAG’s 2017 Report 5, which, following the recent confrontation at LAC between Indian and Chinese soldiers, “talks about the very important issue of the construction of Indochinese border roads by the Border Roads Organization seems to be examined and In accordance with the meeting agenda documents.
Likewise, troops in high altitude areas such as Siachen, Ladakh, etc. must receive clothing, equipment, special rations and high altitude accommodation and the 2019 CAG report number 13 highlights the delays in the purchase of clothing and equipment for troops in these regions, according to documents of the PAC agenda
Sources within the committee said the PAC could call the Secretary of Defense and other senior officials to be informed of the same.
Friday, the PAC meeting was the first panel meeting of the current calendar year. It is important because it was the second meeting of the Lok Sabha standing committee after the premature adjournment of Parliament on March 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 15, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed along the LAC in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, in which 20 members of the Indian army lost their lives while on duty.
