Indian Chief of the Army Staff, General V K Singh, on a four-day visit to Bhutan, was granted an audience by His Majesty the King and also met the Prime Minister assuring them of India’s continued support to security of the mountainKingdom. Singh has a special understanding of the country having served as an instructor at the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) in Bhutan from 1979 to 1981. His Majesty hosted a luncheon for the General at the DechencholingPalace. He also met with the Chief Operations Officer Major General Batoo Tshering.
The visit is also significant as it is the first by the Army Chief to a foreign country after taking over the Indian Army. “His first visit to Bhutan is an indication of the total support of the Indian army and the government of India to the government of Bhutan, and yet another step towards strengthening the existing strong and close bonds of friendship between two countries,” said a spokesperson for IMTRAT.
Indo Bhutan military relations have a strong basis weaved in the Himalayan kingdoms reliance for military aid and assistance on India. The level of cooperation is one of the strongest for both the militaries with the Indian Military Training Team in the country providing the back bone for training and development of the Royal Bhutanese Army. Both countries also face a common challenge of a border dispute with China which is not likely to go away anytime soon and therefore concerns of external security have deepened bonds between the two armed forces as well.
The other arm of Indo
Bhutan
relations is supply of Hydro power which is also the main revenue earner for the government. Hydropower accounted for 22 percent of
Bhutan
’s GDP compared to 11.5 percent in 2005-2006 financial year and 18 percent in 2006-2007. With neighbours India and Bangladesh power starved,
Bhutan
has tremendous scope to exploit its natural potentialestimated at 30,000-mw about which around 20,000-mw is technically feasible.
Bhutan
's power demand is far lesser than its huge hydropower potential. India’s hydro power partnership with
Bhutan
fructifies in setting up a hydropower project and buying power from the same. The first project under such a bilateral partnership was the 336-mw Chuka commissioned in 1986 followed by 60-mw Kurichu in 2001 and 1,020-mw Tala hydropower project commissioned in 2009.
In case you come across any suspicious activity, any suspicious movement or have any information to tell to the Anti-Terror Squad, please take a note of the new ALL INDIA TOLL-FREE Terror Help-line "1090". Your city's Police or Anti-Terror squad will take action as quickly as possible. Remember that this single number 1090 is valid all over India.
This is a toll free number and can be dialled from mobile phones also. Moreover, the identity of the caller will be kept a secret.
Please try to make aware each and every citizen of India about this facility.
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