(HT)
Weeks after Pakistan drones swarmed the Indian skies during Operation Sindoor, the Uttarakhand government plans to deploy anti drone systems at Char Dham shines, and important establishments to counter potential aerial threats, people aware of the matter said on Monday.
The home department asked the police headquarters to prepare a proposal for the same to forward it to the Union ministry of home affairs.
Uttarakhand secretary (home) Shailesh Bagauli said, “During Operation Sindoor, we had received a communication from the Union ministry of home affairs stating that we can consider deployment of an anti-drone system. We have asked the state police headquarters to prepare a detailed proposal to be sent to the ministry of home affairs. It is important in view of the Char Dham shrines, and important establishments located in the state. Uttarakhand also shares an international border with China and Nepal.”
Dehradun houses offices of various central government departments including Indian Military Academy and DRDO’s Instruments Research and Development Establishment.
Two years back, the state government approved the Uttarakhand Drone Promotion and Usage Policy, 2023 to promote drone manufacturing and drone-based services in the state.
The Char Dham yatra began on April 30 with the opening of Yamunotri and Gangotri temples. The portals of Kedarnath Dham, the most visited by pilgrims among the four shrines, opened on May 2 and Badrinath temple on May 4. Over 14 lakh pilgrims have already visited the Char Dham shrines.
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, the Uttarakhand government also decided to set up six civil defence units in six districts — Champawat, Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Haridwar. Four of them share international boundaries with either China or Nepal. The state currently has one civil defence unit in Dehradun.
Additional companies of paramilitary forces were also deployed at Char Dham shrines during the Operation Sindoor.
Bagauli said the government will send a proposal to the Centre regarding the establishment of the civil defence units.
The Civil Defence Act of 1968 states that any state government can set up the civil defence units at their level, and the union government must be notified about it, he added.
On May 7, a drill was carried out in Dehradun following directions from the Union government to check to test the civil defence mechanisms in case of any eventuality. Dehradun district has nine siren systems to alert the public, but only five were used.
Last year, 4.8 million pilgrims visited Char Dham shrines and Hemkund Sahib shrine since the opening of the portals on May 10.
Out of 4.8 million pilgrims who visited Char Dham shrines, 1.42 million visited Badrinath, 183,722 visited Hemkund Sahib, 1.65 million visited Kedarnath, 0.81 million visited Gangotri Dham and 0.71 million visited Yamunotri Dham. In 2023, Char Dham yatra broke all previous records with pilgrim influx crossing the 5.6 million mark, according to tourism department officials.
