The National Security Council (NSC) has announced that it will meet on Friday to discuss the issue of people migrating from villages near the India-China border in Uttarakhand, after the central government on Wednesday issued an alert over the same.

A number of important decisions are likely to be taken in the meet, sources said, with chairperson SS Negi expected to give a presentation on the issue

The National Security Council was tasked with formulating a report on the issue of migration after it was known that as many as 14 villages along the border had been vacated by the locals. The villages include one in Chamoli, eight in Pithoragarh, and five in Champawat. The population in at least eight of these villages has also reduced over the past few years.

Chairperson Negi said that the villagers were not migrating to big cities like Dehradun or Delhi, but to nearby villages. To check this, the centre is likely to announce special aid packages for the region.

The issue of migration of villagers continue to plague the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the centre who have, over time, promised to check the issue, but to no discernible result. The government's steps to check migration on the India-China border in Uttarakhand will now decide the future course of action regarding the issue.