50 new heated posts for jawans on China border

Greater Noida: The government is looking into a proposal for setting up 50 temperature-controlled posts along the India-China border for ITBP jawans who guard the Himalayan heights in sub-zero temperatures.

A temperature of 20 degrees Celsius will be maintained in the proposed new posts for  jawans who are also being encouraged to learn Mandarin for better communication with the Chinese Army, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said here on Tuesday.

Addressing personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), established  on this day 56 years ago, Mr Singh also announced the construction of 25 border roads in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to boost the capabilities of the force. There are 176 border posts of the ITBP along the India-China border, from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.

“We are committed to enhancing your operational and infrastructure capabilities. Recently, we got a proposal to build 50 new border posts for the force and we are working on it,” the home minister said, adding that technology shall be used to maintain a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius in these new posts. The setting up of new heated posts is aimed at ensuring that they are not abandoned during extreme snow and cold. “We are also working to enhance road, mobile and satellite connectivity in the border areas for the ITBP,” Mr Singh said. The ministry is working to help jawans, who have suffered 50 per cent disability during operations, through the Bharat Ke Veer benevolent fund, he said.

The minister said that the government is also considering special lightweight winter clothing for troops deployed above 9,000 feet and an enhanced fleet of snow scooters to patrol the high-altitude areas of the 3,488-km Sino-Indian frontier.

Mr Singh lauded the ITBP for introducing Mandarin during basic training of its troops so that they can converse with the Chinese Army during face-offs.

The ITBP guards the border in altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,700 feet in the western, middle and eastern sectors of the Indo-China border.

Mr Singh said that he is not satisfied with housing and infrastructure facilities for the ITBP personnel and “seriously” working to improve these areas.

He announced that 35 old border posts in very high-altitude areas are also being upgraded as “composite” units.

The minister asked the ITBP troops to build good relations with residents in the border areas as they are “strategic assets” and stakeholders in keeping the frontier safe.

He also asked each ITBP officer to take up the responsibility of at least one family of those killed in the line of duty.

ITBP director general R.K. Pachnanda said that the force has been nominated as the “nodal agency” for obtaining and channelising satellite communication for all border-guarding forces.

He said that the home ministry has also approved the ITBP’s proposal to hire helicopters for high-altitude border posts.

The paramilitary is enhancing its intelligence set-up, Mr Pachnanda added.