Government officials confirmed to the report that ‘’substantial” amount of land along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has been lost to China in the last two decades.

At a meeting attended by the officials of the Jammu and Kashmir government, union ministry of home affairs and the Army confirmed that the maps used by various authorities were different in the absence of proper mapping for the region.

The meeting held in the city of Leh was chaired by Commissioner (Leh) A K Sahu. Among other officials, Brigadier General Staff of 14 Corps Brig Sarat Chand and Colonel Inderjit Singh too attended the meeting.

It was agreed by all that India was withdrawing from the LAC and the country’s territory shrunk over a period of years. Though the process was reportedly slow the losses were substantial.

"There is a lack of institutional memory in various agencies as well as clear policy on this issue which in long run has resulted in loss of territory by the India in favour of China," according to the meeting notes.

The meeting was called to discuss protection for nomads as they were having problems with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Every year nomads usually move their cattle to Dokbug area of Nyoma sector during the winter months. They were threatened by PLA and who damaged their tents and asked them to vacate the land.

A report filed by former Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Nyoma) Tsering Norboo cited a famous Chinese proverb “better do in inches than in yards” and alleged “They have threatened the nomadic people who had been using Dokbug area for grazing since decades long, in a way to snatch our land in inches.”

Near Mount Gya on July 31 last year Chinese troops has entered 1.5 km into the Indian Territory and painted the rocks with “China” in red. Mount Gya measuring 22,420 ft is located at the tri-junction of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, and Tibet. The boundary here was marked during the British era and is recognized by both the countries.

The government has so far brushed aside these concerns as the ministry of external affairs said that the alleged border incursions were due to the difference in perception regarding border between the two countries. The minister for External affairs recently said he was hopeful of solving the border issue with China in an amicable manner.