The Indo-Tibetan Border Police have started a plantation drive in a garden dedicated to the Galwan martyrs, named ‘Galwan Ke Balwan’. Over 1,000 saplings have been planted by the ITBP in the area few kilometres away from the Galwan Valley site where Indo-China clash happened.
The ITBP said that it is planting endemic species which can survive the extreme cold conditions. Soon, the area which faces temperature of -30 degree Celsius will have a garden in the honor of martyrs. According to ITBP, this area was completely barren and had no plants. However, no ITBP jawan died during the face-off with China that took place early this year. Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah initiated the drive for the Central Police Forces. Apart from ITBP, it includes all Central Police Forces like CRPF, BSF, CISF and Sashastra Seema Bal. This drive will continue next year also and soon the area will have more greenery. The Chinese and Indian troops are engaged in a stand-off since early May along LAC in eastern Ladakh. The situation along the LAC deteriorated in June following the Galwan Valley clash in which both sides suffered casualties. Twenty Indian soldiers lost their lives in the violent face-off on June 15-16. It happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese troops to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation in eastern Ladakh.
