Indian missiles threaten Himalayan valley

[UPI]

NEW DELHI, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Indian plans to build a missile firing
range in the remote Himalayan state of Sikkim have upset
environmentalists, who say the range will destroy the delicate eco-
system of a pristine mountain valley, reports said Tuesday.
Sikkim's Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has also appealed to New
Delhi to stop construction of the range in the Lashar Valley, the Press
Trust of India reported.
The valley, nestled between two Himalayan peaks at an altitude of
more than 18,500 feet (5650 meters) is home to such endangered species
as snow leopards, blue sheep, marmots, and snow partridges,
environmentalists said.
Members of The Green Circle, a local organization formed to fight the
military plan, say the firing range would cover 173 square kilometers,
or nearly 2 percent of Sikkim's geographical area, the report said.
Vibrations from the missiles could trigger avalanches, landslides and
bursting of lakes, causing tremendous damage in the region, the
activists say.
The remote Himalayan province of Sikkim was an independent kingdom
until 1975, when New Delhi annexed it after a series of political crises
and riots in the capital, Gangtok.
Sikkim, with its population of about 425,000 people, is known for its
scenic beauty, but India has long considered the area of key strategic
importance because of its proximity to China and its border with Tibet.
alk/upi

[UPI]